. 


The  Princess   of  Alaska 


A  TALE  OF  Two  COUNTRIES. 


By 
Richard  Henry  Savage 


A, 


I  D 


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When  answering  this  advertisement  please  nn-nl  ion  (ilobe  Library. 

Copyright  May  4,  1894,  by  Richard  Henry  Savage. 
AU  right*  reser 


CONTENTS. 



•*  flflJI»icE*A^ « 

BOOK  I 

HIDDEN    TREASURE, 


PAGE 

CHAPTER  I— The  Khamschatka  Packet—  "  What 
Brought  You  Here  " —  "  Bright 
Eyes  and  Roulette"  -  13 

"  II — Fedor's    Secret  -  -  The  American 

Whaler — The  Treasure  Island 
— Pierre's  Discovery  -  32 

"  III— At  Sitka — A  Prima  Donna  in  Dis 

guise — First  Mate  McMann — 
The  Czar's  Partner —  "I  Can 
Wait  " — The  Sale  of  an  Empire  58 

«  IV— In  the  Sitka  Church  —  The  Little 

Princess  of  Alaska  Finds  a 
Lost  Lover — In  the  Governor's 
Working  Room — The  Eskimo's 
Story —  Unknown  Seas  —  The 
Island  Survey  —  A  New  Monte 
Cristo  —  Olga  Darine's  Trust  -  85 

"  V— Prince  Maxutoff's   Plan— The  Fur 

King's   Plot  —  Olga's    Princely 
Lover —  "  I  Must  Be  a  Convict's 
Bride"  —  Hand  and   Heart  - 
The    Silent    Partner  —  "  The 
Island  is  Mine "         -         -         -  i?0 


10  CONTENTS. 

BOOK    II 

UNDER  A  NEW  FLAG. 

PAGE 

CHAPTER       VI —  Baranoffs   Castle  En  Fete  —  The 
Last    Days    of    Empire  —  The 
Foot   of  the    Stranger — Home 
ward  Bound —  "French  Pete"  -   171 
VII— Paul    Bradford    Outwitted  --  The 
Emperor's  Furs  —  A  Volunteer 
Purser's  Assistant — "  Good-Bye 
Sweetheart  "—In  Two  Capitals 
The     Princess     of    Alaska 
Leaves  Her  Realm  -   194 

"  VIII — A  Silent  /ankee — The  Governor 
General's  Departure — Ominous 
Tidings — Anton  Phillippi's  Mis 
sion — At  Dresden — Vera  Orlof's 
Surprise —  "  I  Am  Your  Friend 
For  Life, — For  Olga's  Sake  "  -  219 

"  IX-  A  Timely  Warning— Butzow's  Bul- 

'etin — The  Emperor's  Welcome 
-The  Nijni  Novgorod  Prison 
Pen — A  Missing  Prince — "We 
Must  Trust  To  Vera  "  —  The 
Little  Princess  Loses  Her  Cor 
onet — On  the  Farallones  -  -  245 

'*  X— The    Confederates— Paul  Bradford 

in  the  Senate  Anteroom  —  A 
Fat  Lease— My  Patent — "Find 
That  Man  And  You  Find  Your 
Fortune" — Vera's  Discovery— 
The  Wrath  of  an  Empress  — 
"Bread  Upon  The  Waters"  -  268 


CONTENTS  II 

BOOK    III 

THE    CLAWS    OF    MIDAS 

PAGE 

CHAPTER  XI  —  The  Minister's  Quest  —  Zubow's 
Triumph  —  An  Appeal  to  the 
Czarina's  Heart  —  The  Little 
Princess'  Knightly  Champion— 
At  Washington — A  Pact  Con 
cluded — "The  Golden  Island 
Is  Mine  " — Bradford's  New  Dig 
nity—The  Prisoner  of  The  Far- 
allones— At  The  Island  — The 
Claws  of  Midas — Two  Claim 
ants  to  Nature's  Treasury  -  295 

"  XII — A  Satisfactory  Survey — An  Alarm 

ed  Statesman — French  Pete's 
Title— "Who  are  the  Others" 
— An  Arctic  Gold  Placer — Vera 
Orlof's  Promotion-"He  Shall  be 
Saved  " — The  Princess  of  Alas 
ka  on  The  Neva — The  Young 
Chief  of  The  Orlofs  -  330 

"  XIII — Zubow's  Cruise  in  The  Kuriles — 
Light  At  Last — "  Hasten  With 
The  Pardon"  —  A  Beleaguered 
Camp — The  Czar's  Messenger 
—  Love's  Crown  of  Sorrows — 
Faithful  to  the  Last— The  Seal 
of  Innocence — Too  Late  -  -  352 

"  XIV — Vera  Narychkine's  Confidence— 
An  Artist's  Ordeal  —  The 
Princess  of  Alaska — Olga  Or 
lof's  Imperial  Friend  —  An 


12  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

American  Millionaire's  Gal 
lery — Randolph's  New  Order— 
The  Lost  Heritage— The  New 
Russian  Minister  -  -  378 

CHAPTER  XV — Arthur  Randolph's  Discovery — 
The  Treaty — A  Visiting  Princess 
—The  Young  Chief  of  The  Or- 
lofs— At  The  Legation  Ball— 
The  Emperor's  Tenth  — Paul 
Bradford's  Olive  Branch— The 
Princess  of  Alaska's  Dower — 
Countess  Olga  Makes  a  Present 
—A  Clear  Title  -  -  -  398 


THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA, 

A  TALE  OF  TWO  COUNTRIES. 

BOOK  I. 

HIDDEN  TREASURE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  KHAMSCHATKA  PACKET.      "  WHAT  BROUGHT  YOU  HERE?" 
BRIGHT  EYES  AND  ROULETTE. 

"There  goes  the  signal  up  on  Constantine  Island! 
To-morrow  I  may  know  what  new  surprise  my  guardian 
demon  has  in  store!  The  corvette  will  be  here  with  the 
morning  tide!  And  there  will  be  feasting!  Revelry, 
high  play  and  even  a  Grand  Ball  of  the  Emperor's 
officers!  Three  years  ago,  I  would  have  been  the  official 
star, — Fedor  Orlof,  of  the  Guards, — Chief  Aid  of  the 
Minister  of  the  Interior!  To-day"  ? 

The  speaker  turned  from  the  darkening  river  and  gazed 
at  his  coarse,  gray  garb.  His  voice  sank  into  a  sneer,  as 
he  dropped  on  the  mossy  turf  beside  a  huge  bronze  gun, 

ready  for  mounting. "To-day,  I  am  only — No. 

24190, — and  I  wear  the  convict  patch!  Could  Gregory 
Orlof's  grand-nephew  sink  lower?"  The  evening  breeze 
swept  down  the  great  Amur,  on  whose  gray  bosom  a 
wooded  island  lay  in  front  of  the  growing  fortress  town 
of  Nikolaevsk.  The  Siberian  summer  was  at  its  height, 

13 


14  THE    PRINCESS    OK   ALASKA. 

and  the  fragrant  incense  of  the  virgin  forests  on  the 
banks  of  the  mighty  stream  scented  the  twilight  zephyrs. 
The  lonely  dreamer  gazed  with  repulsion  at  his  squalid 
attire,  his  coarse  mujik  boots  and  browned,  ungloved 
hands.  In  the  East,  a  thick  bank  of  fog  hung  over  the 
shallows  where  the  Amur  pours  out  the  mingled  waters 
of  the  Shilka,  Arguin,  Sungari  and  Ussuri — a  mighty 
flood — into  the  shallow  Gulf  of  Saghalien. 

"I  wonder  where  they  will  send  me  now!  I  have 
trodden  every  foot  of  the  twenty-five  hundred  miles  of 
the  Amur  banks,  and  unless  I  am  tied  for  life  to  the 
dim  Hades  of  Saghalien  Island,  the  power  of  Alexander 
can  send  me  but  in  two  farther  regions.  The  one  is 
Khamschatka,  and  the  other  dreary  Aliaska!  If  it  were 
not  for  the  cursed  port  guards  on  board,  I  might  escape 
any  day  on  one  of  these  Yankee  whalers!"  The  young 
man  sprang  up  and  paced  the  interior  of  the  unfinished 
battery. — Behind  him,  the  lights  were  already  twinkling 
in  the  low  log  houses  of  the  straggling  town  stretching 
back  into  the  primeval  forest. 

"If  I  had  gold,  even  here,  I  might  do  something!" 
the  young  man  mused,  "but,  alas!  I  have  nothing  left! 
—Not  a  thing!" — He  started  as  he  mechanically  lit  a 
cigarette,  for  on  his  hand  glittered  a  slender  gold  band 
which  held  together  three  superb  turquoises. 

"Ah  yes!  Olga  Darine's  ring!  I  have  this  fatal  re 
minder  of  that  last  wild  night  on  the  Island. — My  poor 
Olga! — When  the  beauty  gave  it  to  me,  it  was  before  all 
the  gay  fellows  of  our  mess!  'It  will  bring  you  luck, 
Fedor,'  she  laughed!  It  has  brought  me  luck!  Some 
author  says:  '  In  every  human  nature,  there  is  the 
highest  heaven  and  the  lowest  hell !'  That  witch  woman's 
eyes  lured  me  down  into  a  gulf  I  never  dreamed  of!  and 
here,  a  military  convict,  I  toil — without  hope  or  reward 


THE   PRINCESS   Ol     ALASKA.  15 

— my  lips  silenced, — as  a  mere  instrument  of  the  will  of 
any  petty  sub-commander!  "It  is  a  living  Hell!"  He 
stopped  his  wolf  strides! 

"  Shall  I  end  it  all  now?"  He  drew  out  a  keen  blade, 
a  peasant's  wood  knife,  and  glared  around  in  impotent 
rage.  His  eye  took  a  last  sweep  over  the  silent  river, 
the  scattered  red  mounds,  where  grinning  tiers  of  Russian 
heavy  guns  waited  for  the  hated  English, — the  lonely 
forests,  and  the  fortified  settlement  wherein  every  free 
man  was  his  master! — He  suddenly  sprang  up  on  the  low 
battery  parapet  and  hurled  the  knife  far  out  into  the 
chill  depths  of  the  Amur,  for  his  gloomy  glances  at  the 
river  showed  him  the  American  flag,  fluttering  proudly 
at  the  tapering  mizzen  of  a  graceful  trading  clipper. 
The  sight  roused  him  to  desperation! 

''By  Heavens!  I  will  escape!  Poor,  wretched, 
friendless,  yet  there  is  still  that  one  flag!  It  is  the  signal 
of  Liberty!  I  will  serve  my  masters,  in  silence,  yet  an 
other  year!  Some  of  my  old  comrades  may  come  over 

here  on  duty!  They  may  substitute "  He  suddenly 

ceased  as  he  glanced  at  the  canvas  lettered  patch  on 
his  breast,  marking  him  as  the  Czar's  convict  No. 
24190.  —  "If  I  could  change  my  tell-tale  garb  with 
that  of  some  dead  soldier,  should  this  quest  take  me  to 
Khamschatka,  or  Aliaska, — then,  then,  Fedor  Orlof  rnay 
live  again!  Besides,  a  sudden  foreign  war  may  occur! 
I  may  earn  my  liberty  in  battle,  or  hide  on  one  of  these 
whalers,  when  no  watchful  police  guard  has  charge! 
Bakunin  baffled  the  officers  thus,  and  safely  reached 
San  Francisco!  If  I  only  had  one  man  I  knew;  a  con 
federate — never  so  humble!  I  swear  I  will  foil  them  yet! 
A  free  man,  I  have  still  my  youth  and  courage!  To  find 
again  the  darling  woman  who  gave  me  that  ring!  It 
seems  I  can  hear  the  wild,  joyous  shouts  of  the  foyer 


l6  THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA. 

again!     There  is  but  one  Olga  Darine!     The  Queen  of 
Song!" 

The  young  man  bowed  his  head  in  his  hands,  but  rose, 
and  sullenly  plodded  out  of  the  battery  pit,  as  a  heavy 
gun  boomed  its  warning  signal. — It  was  the  Convict's 
Recall! 

"I  must  report  off!  The  Czar  never  sleeps!"  The 
wild,  singing  notes  of  a  bugle  sounded  sweetly  on  the 
still  evening  air,  as  the  young  man  hastened  his  swinging 
military  stride.  Its  music  wakened  memories  of  reviews 
on  the  Champ  des  Mars,  when  he  had  led  his  grenadier 
company  past  the  stand,  where  the  eyes  of  Russia's 
Empress  gazed  kindly  on  her  once  favorite  court  page. 
The  clarion  now  called  him  back,  as  a  prisoner  to  be 
locked  within  the  garrison  lines  at  eight  o'clock!  After 
that  hour,  the  criminal,  having  no  passport,  would, 
perhaps,  be  shot  down  like  a  dog  by  the  first  heavy 
jawed  sentinel! — And  there  were  double  guards  posted 
in  these  days  of  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-five,  for  the 
imperious  Czar  had  chosen  to  take  a  bold  stand  in  favor 
of  the  United  States  in  its  terrible  civil  war!  A  score 
of  thousands  of  muscovite  soldiery  were  spread  along 
the  Pacific  Siberian  coast  to  meet  any  possible  English 
or  French  attack.  Here,  on  the  banks  of  the  Amur, 
twenty  miles  from  where  the  batteries  of  capes  Pronge 
and  Tebakh  guarded  the  river's  entrance,  an  arsenal, 
dockyard,  foundries  and  military  magazines  were  pro 
tected  by  heavy  river  fortifications.  It  was  a  weird 
scene!  The  lonely  Amur  in  its  savage,  silent  grandeur! 
Asia's  great  useless  artery! 

The  tall  soldier-like  convictpickedhisway  through  great 
heaps  of  scattered  military  material  to  the  main  avenue. 
As  he  turned  a  corner,  a  hoarse  challenge  arrested  him, 
with  his  frame  quivering  in  rage,  Orlof  brought  his  hand 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA,  17 

to  the  salute,  and  in  a  clear,  ringing  voice  gave  his 
number,  adding  "  From  the  River  Water  Battery. — 
By  permission." 

"Pass  on!"  growled  the  leering  peasant,  eying 
maliciously  "The  Count,"  as  the  soldiery  nicknamed 
the  aristocratic  prisoner. 

"This  is  the  bitterness  of  death!  By  St.  Vladimir,  I 
will  kill  myself  yet!"  muttered  Orlof,  as  he  saw  the 
lights  twinkling  in  his  prison  log  hut,  a  hundred  yards 
away.  Entering  the  low  door,  he  threw  himself  down 
on  a  rude  bench,  and  by  the  flickering  fire  of  birch  logs, 
dreamed  of  days  when  in  the  Winter  Palace,  the 
blushing  bevy  of  Maids  of  Honor  had  begged  him  to 
show  them  the  "White  Room,"  in  all  its  bravery  decked 
for  an  Imperial  Ball. 

His  head  rested  on  his  arms,  as  he  leaned  against  a 
table  of  rough  plank. — There,  a  bowl  of  cabbage  soup, 
a  simple  dish  of  fish  and  a  flinty  loaf  of  black  bread 
awaited  him.  The  ex-dandy  eyed  it  with  disgust  !  A 
door  creaked,  and,  from  a  shed,  an  old  convict  hobbled 
in,  with  a  single  tallcw  candle. — Drawing  a  glass  of  tea 
from  a  battered  samovar,  the  new  comer  said,  humbly: 
"  You  must  eat,  Barin!  You  are  to  report  at  nine  o'clock!" 

"Who  sent  for  me,  Ivan?"  the  young  man  queried, 
lifting  his  haggard  eyes  to  the  old  man.  It  was  a  dog's 
abode. 

"General  Dachkof's  orderly  came.  There  is  to 
be  a  great  council."-  — "All  the  officers  are  as 
sembled!'' 

Orlof 's  eyes  lightened.  — "  I  may  learn  something,  after 
all!  It  is  surely  an  imperial  vessel,  for  the  yellow  flag 
and  doubled  headed  eagle  was  hoisted  on  the  signal 
tower!" 


lo  THE    1'K  i 


"The  town  is  full  of  the  up-rivrr  officers,  and  couriers 
riding  everywhere  in  the  garrison.  A  steamer  is  lying 
in  the  stream,  from  above!"  muttered  the  old  man,  as 
he  eagerly  attacked  the  supper. 

Fedor  Orlof  mutely  swallowed  his  tea,  and  broke  a 
bit  of  the  dark  rye  bread.  Seating  himself  by  the  fire, 
he  glazed  in  its  glowing  embers.  The  light  falling  on 
his  stern  face,  gleamed  on  a  countenance,  in  which 
suffering  and  despair  alone  had  marred  the  heritage  of 
the  Orlof  beauty.  Only  thirty-four  years  of  age,  tall 
and  gracefully  knit,  his  blue  eyes,  chiselled  lips  and 
classic  brow,  recalled  that  superb  Gregory  Orlof  whose 
dare-devil  intrigues  had  made  him  the  ruler  of  the  great 
Catherine,  the  Semiramis,  before  whom  forty  millions  of 
subjects  crouched  in  fear!  Fedor  Orlof  was  as  hand 
some  as  the  "  giant  with  the  face  of  an  angel,  the  bold 
favorite,  who  nonchalantly  opened  the  Empress'  letters, 
with  the  remark,  'She  told  me  to  look  through  this'!" 

The  air  of  haughty  insolence,  the  wild,  fatalistic 
courage  of  the  great  conspirator,  and  the  clinging 
elegance  of  the  guardsman,  lifted  Fedor  Orlof  above 
the  meaner  throng  of  Siberian  prisoners  whose  misery 
overwhelmed  them!  His  tawny  mustache  and  yellow 
crisp  curls  gave  him  a  singularly  youthful  appearance. 

Leaning  his  head  upon  his  hand,  the  brooding  ex- 
officer  saw  shadow  pictures  of  his  brilliant  days  of  the 
happy  past,  in  the  dancing  flames.  Days  of  a  careless 
boyhood, — merry  glimpses  from  a  youth. spent  in  early 
luxury, — scenes  of  wild,  romantic  raids  among  the 
Tcherkess, — and  changing  memory  painted  tableaux  of 
that  gilded  circle  of  wit  and  fashion  in  the  strange  city 
of  Peter,  where  a  palace  and  a  prison  are  on  either 
hand  of  the  blue  Neva! 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  ig 

In  the  gloomy  silence  of  the  lonely  far  off  Siberian 
forest, — by  the  river  where  great  Genghis  Khau's 
triumphal  column  speaks  yet  of  the  bloody  Mongol  who 
swept  in  triumph  from  the  Amur  to  the  Indian  sea, 
Orlof  could  hear  again  the  golden  peals  of  the  happy 
Easter  bells  of  his  innocent  days! — And  all  that  love, 
and  friendship,  youth,  wealth  and  hope  could  offer 
seemed  to  be  his,  once  again!  The  days  of  his  page 
hood,  the  happy  cadet  life,  the  gilded  slavery  of  the 
"Guards,"  under  the  winning  glances  of  tender-eyed 
fair  aristocrats  of  Petersburg,  all  came  back  once  more! 

And  then,  a  maze  of  wild  days,  where  song  and 
wassail,  the  rattle  of  gold,  the  shouts  of  the  theatre,  the 
whirl  of  the  race  course,  the  clink  of  wine  glasses, 
maddened  him  again!  Music  stealing  back  upon  his 
mind,  the  echoes  of  an  unforgotten  voice  thrilling  his 
every  fibre, — the  glances  of  a  loving  woman's  deep, 
dark  blue  eyes,  and  even  the  nerve-thrilling  rustle  of 
her  robes! — All  this  came  back,  and  in  the  fire,  he  saw 
again  the  beloved  face  of  Olga  Darine,  —  the  face  which 
had  lured  him  on  to  his  ruin!  For,  as  it  vanished,  the 
coals  crackled,  and  the  wild  whirl  of  a  night  of  madness, 
never  forgotten,  came  back  and  swept  over  his  dis 
ordered  brain.  The  rich  glow  of  the  firelight  fell  upon 
his  hand  with  the  three-gemmed  turquoises  speaking  of 
her  still!— 

He  rose,  with  an  oath,  and  rushed  out  into  the  gloom 
of  the  night,  for  the  firelight  gleams  lay  like  blood  upon 
the  hand  where  the  golden  ring  still  glittered!  Orlof 
dared  not  go  further  in  this  vision  of  these  old  days,  now 
fled  forever — for  it  was  the  blood  upon  that  hand  which 
sent  him  here,  a  nameless  prisoner  to  the  far  valley  of 
the  Amur!— The  curse  of  that  innocent  blood  had  divided 
him  forever  from  sapphire-eyed  Olga  Parine,  the  darling 


20  E    i-Ri\ri;ss   •  K.A. 

of  the  golden  youth  of  Russia! — And  she,  tender  and 
helpless,  too,  had  suffered  by  his  mad  deed. — 

The  maddening  thought  that  he  knew  not  even  whtre 
she  wandered  now, — of  her  possible  fate  after  a  deed  he 
dared  not  own, — goaded  him  as  he  paced  the  silent 
streets,  like  a  houseless  shadow,  waiting  till  the  church 
bell  should  clang  out  the  hour  for  the  council.  Buoyed 
up  with  a  new  desire  to  escape,  Fedor  Orlof  mused  upon 
the  few  advantages  of  his  position. 

Besides  the  arts  of  the  courtier,  the  gallant,  the  man 
of  the  salon,  he  had  wonderful  talents  as  a  draughtsman, 
military  engineer,  and  was  a  special  e"leve  of  the  School 
of  Mines.  His  researches  while  Chief  Aid  of  the  Min 
ister  of  the  Interior  had  made  him  invaluable  to  the 
Siberian  officials  in  the  three  years,  now  expired,  of 
his  terrible  twenty  years'  sentence. — But  he  had  been 
allowed  his  personal  freedom  of  movement,  and,  at  the 
factories  and  mines  of  the  Baikal  region, — in  river 
exploration,  in  military  construction  and  metallurgic 
research,  had  rendered  valuable  forced  service.  All  in 
vain!  For  the  Czar  had  torn  off  the  epaulettes  of  the 
aristocratic  field  officer,  stricken  him  from  the  ranks  of 
the  nobility,  escheated  his  estates,  and  given  the  omi 
nous  designation  24190,  to  replace  the  world-famous 
name  of  the  mighty  Orlof  he  bore. — It  was  the  stern  de 
cree  of  Draconian  justice! 

As  the  young  prisoner  mounted  the  steps  of  General 
Dachkofs  headquarters,  he  murmured:  "I  may  be  sent 
off  on  some  special  service,  and,  by  sea  or  land,  the  Star 
of  Hope  still  glitters!  Better  to  stop  a  rifle  ball  in  a 
dash  for  escape,  than  to  die  like  a  coward  by  my  own 
hand!  Now,  for  my  masters!  The  sword-bearing  slaves 
of  our  common  Master!  They  need  my  brains,  even 
here,  on  the  wild,  lonely  Amur!  It  is  a  game  for  a  life! 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  21 

One  against  many!  I  must  try  and  read  the  dark  future! 
Perhaps  this  summons  may  lead  on  to  Liberty,  to  the 
Lost  Love  of  the  Past, — to  my  Freedom!  Kings  enjoy 
not  the  unbroken  rest  of  the  simple  American  settler! 
That  star  flag  in  the  river  is  my  rainbow  of  salvation! 
It  is  the  oriflamme  of  the  aspiring  of  the  world!  "  The 
prisoner  passed  the  sentinels  with  head  erect. — 

The  anteroom  was  thronged  with  a  crowd  of  junior  of 
ficers,  who  parted,  making  way,  in  respect  for  the  mis 
fortunes  of  the  stern-faced  convict  engineer, — once  an 
Empress'  court  favorite! — With  silent  lips, — Fedor  Or- 
lof's  eyes  alone  told  his  gratitude  to  the  young  officers 
whose  warm  soldierly  sympathy  touched  him,  as  he 
passed  on  to  where  the  adjutant  eagerly  beckoned  him. 
His  hand  trembled  as  he  gravely  saluted  his  superiors! 
His  iron  heart  melted  to  kindness!  The  General's  ad 
jutant  waved  him  briskly  forward. 

" Come  on,  Orlof,"  he  said  sharply.  "The  council 
waits  for  your  description  of  the  coast  works!"  The 
council  chamber  was  filled  with  a  throng  of  officers, 
smoking,  chatting,  and  renewing  old  service  friendships. 
At  the  head  of  a  long  table,  gray  old  General  Dachkof 
sat,  his  breast  covered  with  his  stars  and  orders.  The 
blue  uniform  of  the  officers  alternated  with  the  long 
gray  overcoats,  astrachan  trimmed  and  bullion  laced,  of 
the  new  comers,  who  were  refreshing  themselves  at  the 
generously  spread  table.  Servants  filled  out  wines,  cor 
dials  and  the  white  wheat  vodki  whisky,  while  the  pop 
ping  of  champagne  corks  indicated  the  little  circle  of 
autocratic  generals,  for  there  the  fire  of  Bacchus'  bat 
talions  was  thickest! — 

Plans,  maps,  charts  and  reports  littered  the  long  table, 
whereon,  in  front  of  each  man,  the  huge  silver  tobacco 
box,  crested  with  many  quaint  monograms,  contained 

2 


22  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

each  man's  cigarette  material.  A  giant  bronze  samo 
var  in  each  corner  of  the  hall  served  for  tea,  poured  hiss 
ing  hot  in  thin  glass  tumblers,  metal-framed,  the  fra 
grant  liquid  served  without  milk,  being  heavily  dashed 
with  rum.  Though  the  Government  House  was  plain, 
only  a  great  two-storied  crib  of  twelve-inch  squared  logs, 
each  room  being  walled  up  as  thickly  as  the  outside, — it 
was  richly  furnished.  From  China  and  Japan  had  been 
brought  priceless  spoil  of  the  bazaars  in  bronzes, 
enamels,  porcelain  and  quaint  antique  silver.  These, 
with  abundant  stores  of  silk,  crepes,  linens  and  rich  em 
broideries,  were  easily  bartered  for  in  the  superb  black 
sables  of  Khamschatka,  the  beautiful  dark  sea  otters  of 
the  Kurile  group,  or  the  priceless  black,  blue  and  silver 
foxes  of  the  Copper  Islands. — While  the  council  assem 
bled,  the  romantic  strains  of  Verdi  floated  in  the  air, 
blue  with  the  papyros  smoke,  from  an  orchestra  selected 
from  the  five  thousand  convicts  of  the  Littoral.  There 
was  an  easy,  semi-barbaric  opulence  in  the  whole  head 
quarter  menage,  and  a  huge  gallery  shed  in  rear  shel 
tered  a  noisy  crowd  of  waiting  orderlies,  couriers  and 
guards.  Behind  the  official  mansion,  the  quarters  of  a 
couple  of  sotnias  of  Cossack  lancers  were  reachable  by 
a  covered  passage  and  the  chain  of  sentry  boxes  enabled 
a  message  to  be  rapidly  repeated  over  the  three  or  four 
square  miles  of  the  military  settlement  of  Nikolaevsk. — 
A  luxurious  camp  headquarters,  indeed. 

There  were  lighter  elements  of  romantic  variety  in  the 
official  gathering,  for  a  long  line  of  tarantasses,  and  khi- 
bitkas,  was  already  forming  in  the  great  government 
stables. 

The  bright-eyed,  daring  military  ladies  of  the  lower 
Amur  had  gathered  for  the  extensive  festivities  awaiting 
this  grand  official  reunion.  On  the  great  stairway  wera 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  23 

crowding  already  merry  knots  of  the  younger  officers, 
chatting  with  these  animated  beauties  in  strange  attire, 
while  from  the  reception  room  above  the  gay  notes  of  a 
waltz  were  echoed  in  the  high  refrain  of  womanly  voices 
to  the  accompaniment  of  a  really  good  piano. — Even 
in  Siberia  the  light-hearted  Russian  officers  lived  en 
fete, 

Here,  at  Nikolaevsk,  the  Commanding  General  ruled, 
subject  only  to  the  orders  of  the  Governor  General,  at 
far  Irkutsk,  on  Lake  Baikal,  and  the  advisory  counsel 
of  the  admiral  commanding  the  growing  naval  depot  at 
Vladivostock,  seven  hundred  miles  down  the  coast,  on 
the  Corean  frontier.  From  Nikolaevsk,  by  signal, 
beacon  and  courier,  with  dispatch  corvettes,  the  orders 
of  the  mighty  Alexander  I.  were  spread  over  Kham- 
schatka,  the  northern  Amur  regions,  Saghalien,  and 
even  to  lonely  Aliaska,  far  over  the  wild  and  storm 
swept  Ochotsk  Sea.  It  was  true  that  an  annual  licensed 
trader  visited  the  Russian-American  posts,  from  San 
Francisco, — and  that  the  clouds  of  predatory  American 
traders  and  whalers  darted  in  and  out  of  the  North 
Pacific  inlets,  but  as  an  official  Russian  appanage, 
Aliaska  was  governed  from  the  mouth  of  the  Amur. 
Swift  steamboats  already  plowed  the  Amur  as  far  as 
Nerchinsk,  in  the  Baikal,  fifteen  hundred  miles  from 
the  roar  of  the  Pacific  breakers. 

From  thence,  the  post  road,  with  its  stations  every 
twenty  miles,  stretched  to  the  end  of  the  railway  now 
beginning  to  crawl  out  from  Moscow  and  Petersburg. — 
By  cossack  pony  in  summer: — by  sleigh  in  winter: — the 
Czar's  dashing  couriers  traveled  a  hundred  miles  a  day 
on  the  Emperor's  bidding. 

It  was  the  arrival  of  such  a  secret  dispatch  from  the 
Emperor's  cabinet,  hurried  down  the  river  on  a  swift 


24  THE    I'RINCKSS    OF   ALASKA. 

dispatch  boat,  aided  by  the  five  mile  current,  which 
called  the  notables  of  the  Amur,  around  the  grizzled 
Chief,  who  represented  here  the  mighty  Czar. 

The  gathering  was  timely,  for  the  Imperial  ensign 
flying  on  the  Island  had  signalled  the  arrival  of  a 
special  corvette  from  San  Francisco,  via  Sitka,  and 
which  had  touched  at  Petropaulowski,  in  Khamschatka, 
under  staled  secret  orders  I  -The  flutter  of  all  this 
official  preparation  indicated  clearly  that  there  was  a 
personage  on  board  of  some  marked  distinction. 

Already  the  route  across  the  United  States  was 
desirable  for  home  communication,  and  the  secret 
letters  of  Dachkof's  friends,  just  received  overland,  in 
dicated  that  the  new  comer  was  charged  with  a  special 
mission, — that  he  had  plenary  power,  and  was  none 
other  than  Count  Fersen,  a  talented  military  favorite  of 
the  Emperor.  It  was,  thanks  to  an  intimate  friend,  in 
the  Privy  Council  Chamber  at  the  capital  that  Dachkof 
was  enabled  to  set  his  house  in  order  for  the  unexpected 
guest. 

By  a  singular  coincidence,  the  wife  of  this  watchful 
official  mentor,  the  next  winter  wore  a  cloak  and 
garniture  of  black  sable,  which  were  the  envy  of  the 
proud  Empress. 

As  Fedor  Orlof  entered  the  room,  he  turned  neither 
to  the  right  nor  the  left,  but  strode  up  to  the  Com 
manding  General  and  stood  mute,  his  hand  raised  in 
salute. 

"Ah!  Vronsky  !  Clear  the  room  now!  Only  Com 
manders  are  to  remain!"  said  General  Dachkof,  gravely 
returning  Orlof's  salute.  The  Adjutant  courteously  led 
the  junior  officers  to  a  grand  assembly  room,  where 
service  bonhomie  replaced  the  ceremonies  of  the  council 
now  convening. — -With  a  sign,  Dachkof  bade  Orlof  be 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA,  25 

Seated  at  a  side  table.  The  ex-guardsman  mutely 
obeyed.  He  had  been  the  target  of  the  eye  glances  of 
several  men  who  eyed  with  upstart  insolence  the  once 
famous  society  lion  now  reduced  to  only  a  thing  of 
numerical  designation.  A  mere  man  machine,  whose 
lips  were  sealed — whose  future  was  a  zero! 

As  the  young  man  seated  himself,  he  saw,  with  secret 
pride,  arranged  before  him  a  series  of  sketch  maps, 
plans  and  detailed  reports,  upon  which  he  had  painfully 
labored  for  a  year. — With  the  quick  eye  of  a  scientist, 
and  the  gifts  gained  in  his  high  functions  of  the  Interior 
Deparment,  he  had  caught  the  salient  features  of  the 
Pacific  Siberian  problem  at  a  glance.  ft  was  the 

crowning  triumph  of  his  own  brain! The  Czar  would 

read  the  convict's  words  of  prophetic  wisdom! 

When  the  council  was  formally  assembled,  Fedor 
Orlof's  eye  wandered  over  the  brilliance  of  epaulette 
and  furred  cape,  star  and  jewelled  gew  gaws.  With 
fingers  gleaming  with  Asiatic  gems,  the  commanders 
lifted  the  wine  glass  or  twirled  the  never  absent  papelito. 
In  his  rough  garb,  silent  and  abased,  Orlof  felt  his 
papers  tremble  in  his  nerveless  fingers.  The  humiliation 
galled  him  keenly! His  heart  froze  within  him! 

"  My  God!  This  punishment  is  more  than  I  can  bear" 
he  murmured.  Stern  old  General  Dachkof  saw  the 
agony  on  the  handsome  convict's  face.  "  Poor  devil  !" 
he  murmured,  "he  is  a  gentleman,  at  any  rate!  "Ah  !" 
he  sighed  "These  mad  boys  and  these  worthless 
women!" — Dachkof 's  remark  finished  in  a  growl,  but  his 
attendant,  at  a  sign,  placed  a  bottle  of  champagne  and 
the  General's  own  cigarette  case  before  the  declasse* 

noble. As  the  servant  poured  a  beaker,  Orlof,  with 

a  red  spot  flaming  on  each  cheek,  straightened  himself 
and  drank  with  a  salute,  like  a  simple  soldier. 


26  nil-;   i  RINCtsS   01    ALASKA. 


.«'/  .vi/.v  <vf//  done!     He    i;    a   tftor  >u£iil>rcd,    •«.      ny 
rate!"   mused  l>achkof,  as  he  rapped  for  order. 

"Gentlcir.cn!''  said  the  Commander,  "I  have  caJ  ed 
you  together  to  assist  me  in  welcoming  Count  F> 
who  has  arrived  on  a  special  Imperial  mission.  Natur 
ally,  the  subject  of  our  coast,  its  defences,  the  state  of 
the  garrisons,  the  proposed  future  of  the  Amur  region 
and  Khamschatka,  and  our  relations  with  China  and 
Corea,  will  be  discussed.  Japanese  affairs,  the  Kurile 
Islands,  the  state  of  our  convicts  and  '  assisted  settlers,' 
and  all  the  general  interests  of  our  Imperial  Master 
will  be  reviewed!"  - 

"While  not  desiring  to  influence  Count  Fersen.  who 
personally  represents  the  Emperor,  I  have  prepared  a 
report  on  the  military  situation  of  the  day,  which  I 
desire  you  all  to  hear.  —  If  any  commander  can  offer 
aught  of  value,  I  request  his  written  report,  forthwith, 
to  be  handed  to  my  Adjutant  who  will  afford  you  every 
facility.  Count  Fersen  will  proceed  at  once  up  the 
Amur  to  Irkutsk,  and  thence,  homeward,  overland.  I 
desire  the  utmost  ceremony,  courtesy  and  cordiality  ob 
served  towards  his  party.  Each  of  you  will  be  under 
his  extraordinary  orders." 

At  a  sign  from  the  General,  Fedor  Orlof  arose  and 
calmly  read  the  report  which  had  been  the  harvest  of  his 
three  years  of  convict  life.  Besides  the  military  situ 
ation,  he  had  added  a  commercial  and  sociological 
summary,  with  exhaustive  remarks  upon  the  gold  fields 
and  mines  of  that  great  unspoiled  treasure  region,  the 
upper  Amur.  Murmurs  of  admiration  attested  the 
approbation  of  the  man  of  rank,  now  eager  to  express 
their  flattery  of  the  Commander's  able  report!  The 
mute  convict  held  his  peace,  standing  in  prison  garb, 
his  eyes  downcast!  - 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  27 

"//  is  not  mine! — Orlof  there  is  the  real  author!"  said 
the  General.  Fedor  started  as  he  heard  his  own,  now 
unfamiliar,  name,  and  all  eyes  were  turned  on  him, 
when  the  Adjutant  hastily  entered.  A  throb  of  gratitude 
melted  his  heart! 

General  Dachkof  rose,  after  a  few  whispered  words 
reached  his  ear,  and  cried  "  Order  out  all  the  carriages 
instantly!  Gentlemen,  let  the  papers  referred  to,  be 
handed  in  early  to-morrow.  The  steam  launch  of  the 
"  Seevoutch"  is  approaching  the  landing.  I  shall  ask 
all  Commanders  to  go  to  the  landing  with  me!" 

Already  the  bugles  were  sounding  the  alert  for  the 
troops,  and  the  Adjutant  hastily  left  to  spring,  on  his 
steed  and  bid  the  water  batteries  to  thunder  out  a  grim 
welcome.  As  Dachkof  clasped  the  sable  collar  of  his 
sea  otter  cloak  around  his  neck,  he  saw  the  neglected 
Orlof  standing,  dejected  and  alone,  by  his  table. 

"  Remain  here,  Orlof,"  said  the  General,  kindly,  for 
his  pity  was  aroused.  The  military  convict  had  no  legal 
place,  even  in  the  Siberian  world.  Only  the  prisoner's 
log  hut  and  the  thankless  unpaid  daily  task.  "  Here, 
Ivan!  "  called  the  General  to  his  head  steward,  ''make 
this  young  man  comfortable  for  the  night.  Give  him  a 
room  to  himself.  I  will  need  you  when  I  talk  things  over 
with  Count  Fersen,"  said  General  Dachkof,  as  he  hur 
ried  away.  The  cannon  were  booming  as  the  four  wild 
Siberian  horses  sprang  away,  straining  their  whipcord- 
like  harness  and  whirling  the  light  Victoria  away  like  a 
leaf  in  the  storm.  The  Emperor's  trusted  representa 
tive  must  be  met  by  the  Commander,  bare-headed,  at 
the  floating  landing.  The  Czar's  dignity  mantled  the 
Imperial  Delegate. 

Seated  in  an  anteroom,  listening  to  the  ringing  laugh 
ter  of  the  merry  women  floating  from  above,  Fedor 


28  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

Orlof,  touched  at  heart  by  the  old  soldier's  kindness, 
burst  into  tears  as  he  gazed  into  the  dancing  flames  on 
the  hearth. 

"He  dared  not  call  me  Fcdor  Fedorvitch!  He  is  an 
orthodox  Russian,  and  I — "  Orlof  started  as  again  he 
saw  the  rosy  glow  upon  his  luckless  right  hand.  "And 
I  have  the  blood  of  a  relative  staining  my  brow  with  the 
mark  of  Cain!  " 

In  an  hour  the  mansion  was  alive  with  a  hurrying  mass 
of  humanity;  without,  the  regimental  bands  sounded  the 
Emperor's  Hymn  and  thrilled  the  guests  with  old  Boyar 
melodies,  alternating  with  the  weird,  touching  songs  of 
the  Muscovite  soldiers  gathered  in  mass  by  the  flambeaux 
lighting  up  the  great  portico.  Within,  in  the  reception 
hall,  a  dozen  recently  arrived  military  beaux  were  the 
centre  of  bevies  of  the  laughing,  insouciante  Russian 
ladies,  and  flirting,  feasting  and  drinking  advanced  in  a 
wild  abandon  known  only  to  the  reckless  children  of  the 
White  Czar. 

Gloomily  surveying  the  exciting  scene  from  the  open 
door  of  his  retreat,  the  ex-noble  Fedor  Orlof  mingled 
with  the  throng  of  common  orderlies,  sergeants,  officers 
of  the  guard  and  imperial  couriers.  Pushing  roughly 
through  the  circle  a  stout  sergeant,  black  Astrachan 
turban  on  head,  his  wooden  scabbard  slung  diagonally, 
a  heavy  revolver  chained  to  his  belt,  escorted  a  prisoner 
clad  in  plain,  dark  sailor  garb.  "Peter  and  Paul! 
where's  the  Adjutant?"  cried  the  rude  soldier,  "I'm  to 
have  this  man  kept' to  wait  Count  Fersen's  orders.  Go, 
some  of  you"  "Another  poor  waif  of  Destiny.  Some 
sad  wreck  on  the  shore  of  error,  like  myself,"  thought 
Orlof,  as  the  stranger  turned  his  face  toward  the  light. 
He  sprang  forward  a  step — 

"My   God!    Pierre  Lefranc?"      Fedor's   eyes   were 


THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA.  29 

blazing  with  eagerness.  The  unknown  made  an  imper 
ceptible  movement  of  supplication  with  the  eyes.  And 
the  once  famous  Guardsman  knew  that  his  fellow-con 
vict  wished  for  present  silence.  He  followed  the  retreat 
ing  form  of  Pierre  Lefranc,  once  a  marked  man  in  the 
Russian  navy  and  chief  constructor  at  the  Cronstadt 
dock  yards.  The  Adjutant  appearing  quickly,  had  bid 
den  the  sergeant  advance  with  his  charge. 

Fedor  Orlof  rubbed  his  eyes  as  if  in  a  dream.  Pierre 
Lefranc  in  convict  garb — for  he,  too,  wore  the  fatal  can 
vas  badge.  "The  last  time  we  met  was  at  the  grand 
Easter  supper  of  the  Princess  Narychkine,  when  the 
golden  bells  of  St.  Isaac's  Church  set  a  million  hearts 
mad  with  joy.  How  Vera  Milutin  clung  to  his  arm  in 
the  mad  mazurka  we  danced  at  three  in  the  morning 
under  the  flowers  of  that  fairy  ball-room.  Another  poor 
wretch  under  the  ban.  The  devil  rules  the  world" 
Orlof,  with  a  secret  heart-hunger  to  know  the  cause 
of  Lafranc's  downfall,  lingered  by  his  dying  fire  in  a 
dreary  wait,  for  the  hour  was  already  late. 

Even  now  merry  revelers  were  departing  for  the  grand 
review  of  the  morrow  and  the  later  inspection  which 
would  busy  every  man  of  the  settlement,  while  the  tired 
ladies  already  planned  for  boreal  decorations  to  signal 
ize  the  grand  ball  to  his  excellency  General  Count  Fer- 
sen.  This  flashing-eyed  Tartar  dignitary,  with  a  wolfish 
mustache,  piercing  glance  and  abrupt,  accusative  man 
ner,  had  already  convulsed  the  local  society  to  its  very 
foundations.  Bluff  old  General  Dachkof,  with  the  frank 
ness  of  a  soldier,  saw  a  sly  reserve  behind  the  perfunc 
tory  courtesy  of  the  visitor.  "  I  shall  push  on  at  once 
to  St.  Petersburg  as  soon  as  I  have  finished  my  work 
here,  General,  and  I  desire  to  be  most  fully  informed  of 
everything  along  the  Amur.  I  will  meet  a  courier  at 


3O  I'UINVKSS    01      ALASKA. 

Irkutsk  with  orders  from  Petersburg  which  I  shall  send 
back  to  Khamschatka  and  Aliaska  by  the  Seevoutch.  I 
wish  you  to  have  her  instantly  refitted  for  a  voyage." 

General  Dachkof  bowed  in  humble  compliance.  The 
two  officers  were  now  alone  in  the  General's  working 
cabinet  with  only  the  Adjutant  within  call.  The  richest 
dainties  and  wines  were  spread  before  them.  Selecting 
a  superb  Havana,  Count  Fersen  said,  "How  is  your 
Adjutant?  Does  he  know  the  Amur?  I  wish  to  take  an 
able  officer  up  with  me.  I  am  ordered  to  especially 
report  on  the  gold  interests  and  the  'Emperor's  Purse.' 
Does  he  know  anything  of  the  new  mines  above  on  the 
river?  "  Reflecting  on  the  fiscal  value  of  the  tenth  part 
of  all  discovered  gold  fields  reserved  as  the  Emperor's 
Purse — and  desirous  of  hastening  his  dangerous  visitor's 
departure — Dachkof  touched  a  bell.  "  I'll  give  you  the 
Adjutant,  your  excellency,"  he  said,  respectfully.  "On 
purely  military  matters,  Vronsky  is  invaluable.  I'll  also 
send  a  man  with  you  whom  I  have  here  now.  You 
can  see  him  at  once. — Send  Orlof  up,"  whispered  the 
General  to  his  Adjutant. 

As  Fedor  Orlof  entered  the  splendid  private  apart 
ment  he  met  the  searching  gaze  of  a  man  who  had  sent 
many  a  recalcitrant  in  mad  passion  before  a  platoon  fire. 
Count  Fersen,  a  lion  in  action,  was  a  relentless  devil 
when  aroused.  Orlof  stood  the  scrutiny  of  the  pitiless 
soldier  without  flinching.  "  Looks  intelligent"  said 
Count  Fersen,  coldly,  as  if  speaking  of  some  handsome 
animal.  General  Dachkof  silently  bowed,  and  Fedor 
Orlof's  veins  knotted  on  his  forehead  as  Fersen  sting- 
ingly  let  fall  the  words,  "  These  smart  scoundrels  should 
be  made  very  useful  out  here.  Does  he  know  the  gold 
regions  of  the  Amur?  " 

"  I  was  a  year  engaged  in  special  studies  and  surveys 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  3! 

of  the  gold  mines  in  the  Baikal,  your  excellency,"  said 
Orlof,  in  an  unmoved  voice.  It  was  so  cold  that  even 
Dachkof  started.  Orlof,  in  his  heart,  wished  to  go  up 
the  mystic  river  with  Count  Fersen.  "  If  I  could  only 
kill  him — then  welcome  the  forest,  the  wolves,'"  he  mut 
tered  and  ground  his  teeth. — The  visitor  grinned.  "He'll 
do"  laughed  Fersen.  "By  the  way,  General,  there  is 
an  idle  gold  mine  now  at  Sitka.  You  remember  Olga 
Darine,  the  matchless  prima  donna?  "  Dachkof  started, 
for  a  sudden  convulsion  agitated  Orlof,  making  his  face 
a  hell  of  passion.  "She  is  governess  now  to  Princess 
Maxutoff's  little  girl,  Irma,  the  Princess  of  Alaska. 
What  a  waste  of  golden  notes.  Let  this  fellow  attend 
me.  I've  got  another  down  stairs — a  former  naval  officer 
named  Lefranc.  Put  these  two  rogues  together"  Orlof 
followed  the  Adjutant  in  silence.  As  he  entered  his 
room  Pierre  Lefranc  turned  and  rushed  into  his  arms 
when  the  door  closed.  "What  brought  you  here, 
Pierre?"  cried  Orlof,  eagerly.  "Oh,  bright  eyes  and 
roulette"  laughed  the  Frenchman.  "  And  you?  " 

"Murder"    gasped   Fedor  Orlof,   as  he  sank  into  a 
seat  with  a  groan. 


32  THE   PRINCESS   OF   ALASKA. 


CHAPTER  II. 

FEDOR'S  SECRET.    THE  AMERICAN  WHALER.    THE  TREASURE 
ISLAND.     PIERRE'S  DISCOVERY. 

Pierre  Lefranc  eyed  the  suffering  man  askance! 
There  is  a  gradation  even  in  crime!  "  Did  you  not 
know? "  said  Orlof,  \vearily  as  he  gazed  into  his  old 
friend's  eyes.  "I  have  been  building  ships  on  the 
Aliaskan  coast  for  four  years,  Fedor,"  replied  the  deli 
cate-faced  Gaul. — (i  My  trouble,"  he  winced,  "occurred 
at  Sevastopol,  and  I  was  sent  out  to  the  Pacific  to  hide 
me  there  as  a  convict  drudge. — I  have  drawn  a  blank  in 
the  Lottery  of  Life!" 

"Ah!  I  never  heard  of  your "  Orlof  hesitated. — 

"  Disgrace,  you  mean!"  hotly  said  Lefranc.  "We  are 
in  the  same  boat  now,  Fedor!"  The  former  naval  officer 
laughed  harshly,  as  a  man  entered  bearing  a  good 
supper.  Even  the  vodki  bottle  and  tobacco  were  not 
forgotten.  "  Let's  make  a  night  of  it!" — "First,  tell 
me  of  your  coming  here,"  said  Orlof,  eager  to  hear  of 
the  woman  he  had  once,  loved!  Perchance,  even  Lefranc 
knew  her! — She  too  was  a  prisoner! 

"Well,  I  was  at  Kodiak,  ship-building,  when  the 
'  Seevoutch  '  steamed  in!  This  cold  machine  soldier, 
Fersen,  wanted  a  human  encyclopedia,  and  he  took  me! 
We  rummaged  all  over  the  Aliaskan  coast.  He  had 
outfitted  at  Sitka!  There  is  some  great  change  impend 
ing,  and  when  we  ran  back  to  Sitka — where  this  beast 
did  not  let  me  land, — I  heard  that  the  Yankees  are  fin 
ishing  up  their  great  civil  war!  There  were  councils  and 
councils  at  Sitka! — The  corvette  is  full  of  documents 
and  reports! — Some  say,  the  Czar  and  the  Americans 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  33 

will  attack  England  together  and  capture  the  British 
Columbia  regions,  dividing  the  spoil!  Others,  that  the 
Emperor  will  sell  Aliaska  to  the  United  States. 

"  1 'can't  believe  it!  The  Romanoffs  are  not  land  ped 
dlers!"  said  Orlof.  "True,  but  there  will  be  a  great 
surprise  in  Siberia  in  fifty  years!  The  crown  cannot 
safely  hold  both  sides  of  the  ocean. — If  we  make  a  last 
ing  friendship  with  the  Americans,  we  can  always  supply 
Siberia  and  our  fleets  from  the  friendly  Yankee  ports  of 
the  Pacific.  Why,  we  have  seven  war  vessels  in  San 
Francisco  now!"  " You  may  be  right,  Pierre,"  slowly 
answered  Pierre.  "But  what  will  Count  Fersen  now 
do  with  you?  "  The  Frenchman  laughed.  "  He  has  no 
further  need  of  me  in  languages  and  naval  matters.  I 
am  to  be  sent  back  to  Kodiak  or  Sitka,  on  the  corvette. 

"By  Heavens!  Orlof,  if  we  could  only  be  together •,  we 
might  escape!  /  tried  it  once!  I'll  tell  you  of  my  Kayak 
voyage  in  search  of  a  whaler,  and  how  I  failed!" 

"We  will  escape,  or  die  together!"  solemnly  said  Orlof. 
"  Now,"  said  Lefranc,  "  I  am  as  hungry  as  a  white  bear. 
After  I  have  eaten,  you  shall  tell  me  what  brought  the 
great  Orlof's  heir  to  Nikolaevsk  on  the  savage  Amur." 
He  attacked  the  supper  with  a  wolf's  appetite. — 

"  And  you  shall  give  me  the  story  of  the  mischance 
that  led  General  Lefranc's  grandson, — a  French  emigr£ 
noble, — into  the  ranks  of  the  condemned\  What  a  hurly 
burly  this  human  struggle  is!  " — 

"Ah,  Fedor!  It  is  the  old  story!  You  know  the 
proverb,  'What  Woman?'"  said  the  mercurial  French 
man,  as  he  drained  a  glass  of  vodki,  and  twisted  a  ciga 
rette.  Orlof  had  watched  him  unmoved  as  he  devoured 
the  dainties. — 

"What's  your  sentence?"  gloomily  demanded  Orlof. 
" Ten  years!  I  have  only  six  left  to  serve — if  I  live!" 


34  Tiir    PRINCESS    OF    ,\ I  ' 

replied  Lefranc,  whose  spirits  had  visibly  mounted. 
"Andjw/,  monami?"  "I  have  been  in  hell  for  three 
years,  and  I  look  forward  to  seventeen  more,  unless  the 
dark  genius  of  evil  fortune  leaves  my  side!"  said  Orlof, 
with  a  hopeless  groan.  "Cheer  tip,  you  must  not  give 
way!  Remember  the  blood  you  hare,  in  your  reins!'1'  said 
the  Frenchman,  laying  his  hand  kindly  on  his  friend's 
arm,  "You  know,  we  Gauls  take  our  sorrows  lightly! 
Tell  me  your  story!  We  must  hasten!  JI'c  may  be  sep 
arated  at  any  moment!  Let  us  concert  some  plan  of 
future  action!  I  know  the  whole  Aliaskan  coast!  We 
have  examined,  on  this  trip,  the  Aleutian  chain  and  the 
lonely  Khamschatka  peninsula!  The  amount  of  careful 
official  scrutiny  and  our  long  conferences  make  me  be 
lieve  that  there  is  really  something  in  these  rumors  of 
the  sale  of  Alaska!  And  you  may  be  pardoned,  some  say! 
Your  friends  are  surely  working  for  you  at  home!  Your 
Uncle  Stephan—" 

Orlof  sprang  up  and  cried:  "Hold!  For  God's  sake!" 
His  frame  was  convulsed  with  shuddering  throes  of  pain 
and  agony! — "Name  him  not!  Jfe  died  by  my  hand!  1 
have  not  a  friend  left  in  the  world!  "  Lefranc  stared  at 
the  unhappy  young  man,  who  paced  the  room  like  a 
tiger.  He  stammered:  "Your  Uncle  Stephan — your 
guardian — the  old  Nestor  of  the  nobles!  Impossible! 
Tell  me!  Was  it  an  accident?  You  are  surely  not  a 
murderer  at  heart!"  And  yet,  Fedor  Orlof's  jealous  car 
caught  the  instant  change  of  tone.  "Listen!  I  must 
speak  now,  or  I  shall  go  mad!  I  have  suffered  so  far  in 
silence!  I  was  forty  days  alone  in  the  dark  casemates 
on  the  Neva,  until  dragged  before  a  summary  court! 

Lefranc  forced  the  sufferer  into  a  seat  by  the  fire, 
saying:  "  Hasten,  there  is  the  midnight  guard  changing! 
may  soon  be  interrupted!  Tell  me  all  quickly!" — 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  35 

Orlof  raised  his  eyes,  wild  with  all  the  sorrow  of  a  lost 
manhood!  They  were  as  fierce  as  the  hunted  wolf's 
when  he  turns  at  bay.  The  ruined  noble  told  the  story 
of  his  shame. — 

"  Pierre,"  he  slowly  said,  "  Do  you  know  what  it  is  to 
love  a  woman? "  The  Frenchman  mused,  "I  cannot 
answer  you!  The  lower  forms  of  womanhood  never 
tempted  me !  I  know,  to  my  cost,  the  bright,  hard-hearted, 
reckless  women  of  our  Russian  society. — Gay,  impas 
sioned,  as  changeful  as  the  sea,  insincere,  luxurious,  and 
worn  at  heart!  Demanding  pleasures,  change,  a  horde 
of  lovers,  and  every  social  plaything  of  the  hour!  They 
carry  on  a  ceaseless  duel,  in  which  the  defence  yields 
freely,  even  if  the  attack  falters!  The  tiger  heart  under 
a  bosom  of  snow!  Ah!  Yes!  I  know  the  court  circle! 
The  smiling  devils  with  low  cooing  voices  and  daring 
eyes  of  mad  witchery!  They  have  ruined  me!  Fedor! 
—But  I  never  loved!  I  never  met  the  woman  worthy  of 
the  sacrifice  of  a  man's  life,  of  his  honor,  of  his  freedom! 
I  never  met  one  whom  I  would  serve  forever!  Remem 
ber!  We  French  emigre's,  driven  into  Russia  by  the 
mad  days  of  ninety-three,  are  only  national  sojourners! 
What  would  you  have?  When  my  father  died,  sword  in 
hand  for  the  Czar,  in  the  Polish  campaign,  I  was  sent  by 
the  Emperor  to  the  Naval  Academy,  I  have  lived  alone! 
I  only  know  the  husks  of  womanhood!  No!  I  never  loved! 
And  you?  " 

"From  the  moment  when  I  met  her, — she  was  all  the 
world  to  me!  And  now,  even  here,"  said  Orlof,  sadly, — 
"I  can  hear  the  rustle  of  her  gown!  It  thrills  my  heart! 
I  wake  at  night!  For  I  feel  in  the  land  of  dreams,  the 
poor  prisoner's  heaven, — her  hand  upon  my  brow!  I 
can  even  hear,  at  times,  her  voice!  The  whispered 
word  'Fedor'  sounds  yet  on  my  ear!  I  wake  only  to 


36  THt    PRINCESS    01*   ALASKA. 

misery  and  the  agony  of  shame!  Young,  lovely  and 
loving — a  very  dream  of  beauty, — with  every  maddening 
charm  that  Venus  gave  her  mystic  daughters! — She  pos 
sessed  a  soul  of  passionate  fire!  My  life  took  on  a  mad 
wildness  from  the  very  moment  I  clasped  her  to  my 
breast — the  fatal  hour! — when  in  those  wonderful  eyes, 
I  saw  the  truth,  hidden  till  then,  that  she  lured  me  in 
return!" 

"You  never  met  her,  Pierre. — When  you  and  I 
parted,  I  was  sent  as  special  aid  to  the  Czarevitch,  for 
he  went  to  the  Kherson  to  be  made  Ataman  of  the  Don 
Cossacks.  I  was  the  rising  man  of  the  Regiment!" 
The  prisoner  sighed  heavily. 

"Yes!"  said  Lefranc,  "  Fedor  Orlof's  name  was 
then  on  every  tongue!  The  great  world  envied  your 
station,  your  blood,  your  gallant  bearing*  and  your 
golden  future,  for  did  not  the  Empress  destine  you  to 
marry  the  Princess !" 

" Name  her  not!"  sternly  interrupted  Olof!  "  Let  her 
forget  that  such  a  wretch  as  Fedor  Orlof  ever  kissed  her 
blue-veined  hand!  "  He  continued  calmly  "  In  the  suite 
of  the  Czarevitch  I  went  to  the  Caucasus!  I  was  his 
chosen  companion  in  the  hunt — his  attendant  at  his 
secret  trips  into  those  wild  vales  where  Love  and 
Romance  cling  still  to  the  coy  beauties  of  the  wild 
mountaineers!  I  even  saved  the  life  of  the  Imperial 
heir  in  a  mad  adventure! — On  my  return  to  the  capital, 
the  gilded  court  envied  me  as  I  dashed  down  the  river 
drive,  the  sole  companion  of  the  Grand  Duke's  troika 
rides.  You  were  given  your  splendid  place  at  Sevasto 
pol  and,  I  think,  we  met  no  more  after  that  Easter  Ball, 
when  the  Narychkine  brought  all  the  wonders  of  Fairy 
land  to  our  icy  capital  to  please  the  delicate  darlings  of 
the  young  patrician  circle!" 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  37 

Lefranc  gloomily  nodded.  After  a  moment's  silence, 
Orlof  continued,  "Then  I  met  her!  My  life  changed  as 
if  by  magic!  From  a  gay  gallant, — the  chosen  heir  of 
my  millionaire  Uncle  Stephan  Orlof, — the  leader  of  the 
exclusive  yacht  club  set, — a  bold  duellist  and  desperate 
rider,  I  became  at  once  an  impassioned  and  moody 
lover!  It  seemed  as  if  my  whole  soul  had  been  merged 
in  her  own!  My  heart  beat  no  longer  in  my  own  breast, 
— it  was  buried  in  her  silver  bosom,  her  blood  thrilling 
the  inmost  fibre  of  my  being!  That  is  a  true  Russian's 
love!"— 

"  This  love  soon  became  a  mad  fever  I  I  can  not  bear 
even  now  to  speak  her  name!  But  it  was  the  Czarevitch 
who  led  me  into  her  circle!  It  was  only  as  his  satellite, 
that  I  first  knew  her. — My  lips  were,  perforce,  sealed! 
I  dared  not  oppose  the  ardent  imperial  lover!  My 
future  career, — the  very  safety  of  my  family  depended 
on  my  prudent  silence! —Uncle  Stephan,  the  head  of  a. 
proud  clan,  opened  his  great  palace  to  society,  for  me 
a/one,  as  my  cousin  Vera, — his  only  child,  —  was  still  in 
the  superb  Catherine  Institute,  sealed  from  the  eyes  of 
the  world.  I  had  no  counsellors! — None  to  advise!  I 
fed  upon  my  secret,  for  I  dared  not  openly  scheme  to 
supplant  my  imperial  master! — But  we  loved! — Out- 
eyes  soon  told  the  story! — It  was  a  dangerous  and  unspoken 
secret!  Before  her,  the  dark  gulf  of  ruin  yawned,  if  she 
aroused  the  prince's  resentment! — But  the  delicious 
hour  of  mutual  avowal  came! — I  was  transplanted  into 
an  earthly  Paradise!  /,  Fedor  Orlof,  was  beloved  by 
one  who  spurned  the  passion  of  the  great  Czarevitch! — 
Besides  ourselves,  only  her  faithful  maid  knew  of  our 
stolen  interviews  in  the  hushed  hours  of  the  night,  when 
the  great  white  stars  hung  over  the  Neva!  Even  in  this 
savage  wilderness,  I  have  lived  over  every  hour  of  that 
3 


38  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

elysium!  I  was  forced  to  dissemble!  My  personal 
duties  chained  me  in  the  day  to  the  Grand  Duke's  side. 
His  imperious  love  swelled  to  a  madness!  One  careless 
whisper,  and  I  would  have  been  sent  to  the  under 
ground  lead  mines  of  the  Baikal,  to  rot  in  a  chain,  torn 
from  some  other  luckless  fellow's  carcass!  'Grattez  le 
Russe!'  You  know  the  rest!  I  could  not  appear  with 
her  in  public,  for  my  beloved  would  then  have  been 
the  victim  of  '  some  mysterious  happening! ' 

Orlof's  lip  curled  in  a  sneer. 

''And  worst  of  all,  my  darling's  shining  eyes  and 
glowing  beauty  (heightened  daily  by  our  restrained  pas 
sion)  excited  at  last  the  fiend-like  jealousy  of  the  impe 
rial  suitor!  I  was  not  forced  to  play  a  double  part  as  a 
man  of  honor,  for  I  invited  none  of  his  confidences!  I 
took  my  risks  honestly! — But  I  shuddered  at  the  dan 
gers  hanging  over  the  golden-haired  goddess  who  was 
all  the  world  to  me!" — 

"She  was  totally  ignorant  of  the  dark  secrets  of  Rus 
sian  higher  life!  She  knew  not  of  the  hideous  history 
of  the  lower  tier  cells  on  the  Island,  where  the  drown 
ing  victim,  chained  to  the  stone  wall,  has  often  yelled 
for  mercy — in  vain — as  the  icy  tide  of  the  Neva  rose 
inch  by  inch!  The  very  breezes  whistling  past  the 
lonely  fortress  strand  are  laden  with  the  last  sighs  of 
slaughtered  innocence!  I  have  seen  a  woman's  kerchief 
fluttering  in  last  farewell  from  the  dark  dungeon  win 
dow  slit,  while  I  have  formed  my  grenadiers  around  her 
lover's  scaffold  there!" 

Orlof's  brow  knotted  in  the  congestion  of  the  blood 
rushing  through  his  veins. 

"I  have  seen,  Lefranc,"  he  whispered,  "the  body  of 
the  patrician  victim  drawn  forth  on  a  hurdle,  when 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  39 

around  the  fair  neck,  the  strangled s  finger  marks  belied 
the  tale  of  suicide!'" 

He  spoke  in  a  hoarse  whisper  now:— 

"It  was  to  save  my  Olga "  Lefranc  started  as  he 

heard  the  name, — "that  I  plotted  day  and  night!  I 
could  not,  I  dared  not  confide  in  the  head  of  my  house! 
To  loyal  old  Stephan  Orlof,  the  will  of  the  Emperor  was 
law!  I  had  no  brother,  no  trusty  friend, — you  were 
gone!  To  veil  my  overmastering  passion,  I  plunged 
into  apparent  excesses!  It  was  then  I  earned  the  name 
of  '  the  mad  Orlof!'  But  I  lived  only  in  Olga's  love! 
The  winter  nights  were  my  real  days!  I  moved  as  if  in 
a  trance!  Day  by  day,  I  saw  our  coming  doom  swing 
ing  nearer!  Detection,  separation,  sorrow,  prison,  even 
death  by  suicide, — for  in  my  heart  of  hearts,  I  feared 
the  Grand  Duke's  spies!  I  trembled,  too,  for  Olga, 
whose  steady  repulsion  only  inflamed  the  baffled 
Prince!" — 

"  I  was  a  blind  fool,"  cried  Orlof,  "  not  to  have  known 
that  his  minions  would  watch  the  one  woman  whom  the 
future  ruler  of  ninety  millions  could  not  bend  to  his  royal 
will!  I  had  lavished  my  fortune,  always  controlled  by  hap 
hazard,  in  secret  princely  gifts  smuggled  to  my  hidden 
mate!  I  had  a  mad  joy  in  seeing  her  brow  and  fair  neck 
decked  with  my  own  jewels;  while  the  Grand  Duke's  costly 
offerings  lay  idle  in  their  unopened  cases!  It  was  impos 
sible  for  me  to  leave  Russia!  In  declining  the  personal 
service  of  the  heir-apparent,  I  would  ruin  my  whole 
line!  The  future  would  be  a  blank  and  full  of  unknown 
horrors!  I  dared  not  leave  Olga!  She  was  tied  to  the 
great  city's  pleasures!  A  thousand  eyes  were  centered 
on  us!  The  growing  fever  convulsed  my  brain!  I 
could  get  no  passport  to  leave  Russia,  and,  alas,  my 
Orlof  face  was  too  well  known  to  fly!  Every  frontier  offi- 


40  TDK    PRfNCESS    <>i     ALASKA, 

cial  knew  of  the  Czarevitch's  jovial  sliadow — Fedor 
Orlof f"— 

The  young  convict  -drained  a  glass  of  vodki,  as  he 
hoarsely  murmured,  "  The  end  came  suddenly!  We  had 
studied  every  avenue  of  escape.  A  secret  refuge  in  the 
house  of  an  old  steward  of  my  dead  father's  was  pre 
pared  for  Olga!  He  swore  on  the  fealty  of  fifty  years 
that  he  would  hide  my  darling  and  smuggle  her  away 
with  Archangel  merchants  who  need  no  passports,  for 
the  White  Sea, — from  there,  Olga  could  easily  reach 
Sweden  and  be,  at  last,  safe!  But,  /was  caught  in  the 
toils!  It  was  natural  that  Stephan  Orlof  should  be 
enraged  at  my  balking  the  plans  of  the  Empress  for  my 
splendid  marriage!  I  could  not,  as  a  man  of  honor,  sac 
rifice  the  beautiful  girl  whom  she  destined  to  be  my 
bride!  I  dared  not  speak!  The  friendship  of  princes  of 
the  blood  royal  is  fatal  to  their  intimates!  My  uncle 
vainly  tried  to  hold  me  back  from  the  social  excesses 
which  veiled  my  real  life!  He,  the  most  generous  of 
men,  finally  refused  money  supplies  for  my  wild  career. 
I  had  lands,  forests,  mines,  serfs,  I  was  my  uncle's  joint 
heir,  but  the  Jews  alone  would  furnish  me  funds! — My 
heart  queen's  brow  wore  the  shadow  of  impending  dis 
aster! — The  baffled  Prince  of  the  blood  at  last  openly 
taxed  her  with  favoring  a  rival!  Each  happy  stolen 
interview  terminated,  as  our  heart  embrace  was  broken, 
— in  the  mutual  oath — she  to  fly  to  old  Podolski  and  /  to 
meet  her  (at  any  risk)  at  the  castle  of  Count  Oxenstiern, 
at  Torefors,  on  the  Gulf  of  Bothnia!  Podolski — an  old 
Finn, — was  to  guard  the  treasure  of  my  loyal  heart  till 
we  met! 

One  fatal  evening,  accompanied  by  Ivan  my  serf,  a 
foster  brother,  I  left  the  Orlof  Palace,  after  a  stormy 
scene,  to  go  to  the  Yacht  Club  to  await  the  midnight 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  4! 

hour  when  I  could  safely  baffle  the  Grand  Duke's  spies! 
Olga's  maid  was  on  watch  for  my  private  signal. — A  late 
visit  was  nothing  unusual  in  a  semi-arctic  city,  where 
the  long  nights  are  turned  into  day. 

"  Go,"  cried  Stephan,  as  I  vainly  appealed  for  money, 
"I  will  not  feed  your  mad  follies  longer!  See,"  (he 
cried  in  his  rage)  "  I  have  a  hundred  thousand  roubles  in 
that  cabinet!  Marry!  I  pay  your  debts!  This  money 
is  yours!  But  not  a  kopek  shall  you  have  for  your 
gambling  friends — your  insane  freaks!  " 

I  left  the  old  Boyar  noble,  his  white  head  shaking  in 

rage. 1  was  carried  away  with  a  choking  desire  to 

leave  Russia  forever!  I  burned  to  breathe  the  air  of 
freedom,  to  bear  my  darling  Olga  away  to  some  calm 
retreat  by  the  sculptured  shores  of  Sicily  or  the  dream 
ing  islands  of  the  Greek  Sea,  where  we  could  give  our 
hidden  love  its  countenance  openly  by  day, — where  she 
could  be  mine, — nw  wife,  forever!" 

Orlof  passed  his  hands  over  his  aching  eyes  as  if  to 
shut  out  a  haunting  vision.  "I  reached  the  Yacht  Club 
after  waiting  to  see  my  uncle  drive  off  to  a  ball  of  the 
noblesse.  I  dared  not  own  the  hideous  suggestion 
which  was  lingering  unframed  in  my  mind.  I  knew 
every  nook  of  the  home  of  my  fatherless  boyhood!  I 
would  return  when  the  lazy  servants  gave  themselves 
up  to  their  junketing,  and  the  cabinet  would  easily  yield 
to  the  blow  of  a  hunting  knife.  Why  not,  aided  by 
Ivan,  be  leagues  away  before  dawn?  Olga  could  follow! 
Podolski  was  true  as  death!  I  would  send  a  ring  she  had 
given  me,  the  token  of  supreme  danger,  to  her  by  Ivan! 
A  common  sleigk  could  bear  me  over  the  frozen  Neva 
to  the  suburb,  where  Podolski  kept  relays  ready  for 
Olga's  hour  of  need!  Alas!  as  I  entered  the  Yacht  Club 
Ivan  whispered,  '  We  are  followed!'  It  was  indeed  true! 


42  THE    PRIN'CF.SS    OF    ALASKA. 

Dark  forms  crouched  in  a  swift  sleigh  close  to  us!  Bid 
ding  Ivan  wait,  I  approached  the  club  door,  determined 
to  return  to  my  home  after  a  social  appearance  and  a 
glass  of  Burgundy,  drop  Ivan  with  my  message  for 
Olga  and  sleep  at  the  Orlof  Palace!  There  I  would  be 
safe.  As  I  neared  the  door  two  muffled  men  approached 
me;  one  whispered,  '  Count,  all  is  knwn!  The  Czare 
vitch  recognized  the  pearl  necklace  I  would  not  sell 
him!  /  have  told  him  all.'  The  other  man  was  a  brother 
Israelite  of  the  dog  of  a  jeweler,  a  man  to  whom  I  owed 
large  borrowed  sums!  He  insolently  demanded  his 
money!  Pierre',  then,  the  devil  entered  my  tortured 
heart!  I  strode  in  without  a  word,  drank  a  glass  of 
fiery  brandy,  filled  my  case  with  cigars  and  slowly  drove 
homewards.  At  the  Italiansky  Bazaar  I  dropped  Ivan, 
who  clutched  the  fateful  token. — Then,  with  the  swift 
ness  of  the  wind,  I  drove  back  to  the  Orlof  Palace. 

"All  was  dark!  I  dismissed  the  driver  and  entered 
the  fateful  gateway,  for  the  last  time  an  innocent  man.  I 
could  feel  my  blood  bounding  like  boiling  quicksilver! 
Stealing  to  my  room,  I  seized  my  revolver  and  a  heavy 
knife!  Ivan  was  to  wait  on  the  Admiralty  Quai  with  a 
sleigh  and  a  trusty  driver! 

11  I  knew  that  in  an  hour  Olga  would  be  safe  in  Pod- 
olski's  humble  home!  Before  daylight  she  would  be  on 
her  way  to  the  gloomy  northern  forest  roads,  whose 
obscurity  meant  safety!  I  laughed  softly  as  I  stole  into 
the  dark  library  where  old  Stephan  spent  his  days!  He 
had  sold  an  estate,  a  wood  domain,  and  I  well  knew  the 
bundle  of  thousand  rouble  notes  he  taunted  me  with. 
/  was  possessed  with  a  devil  I  With  a  vigorous  effort  I 
pried  open  the  rotten  old  mahogany  cabinet,  and,  in  a 
moment,  the  heir  of  the  Orlofs  was  a  thief  of  the  night! 
Would  to  God  that  I  had  died  as  1  stood  there,  the. 


THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA.  4$ 

bundle  of  crisp  notes  in  my  hand! — Hastily  secreting 
them,  I  strode  to  the  door,  meaning  to  leave  the  palace 
by  a  little  postern  used  by  the  dvornik  alone!  I  had 
kept  its  key  for  years!  Horror!  As  I  entered  the  hall 
a  man  grasped  me  roughly.  I  struck  home  blindly!  I 
heard  a  heavy  fall  on  the  floor,  deadened  by  the  tufted 
Persian  rugs! 

"  One  hollow  groan  alone  told  me  the  awful  truth!  / 
knew  that  voice!  It  had  been  raised  in  blessing  over  my 
cradle!  I  rushed  like  a  madman  to  the  postern!  I 
gained  the  street,  and,  like  a  shadow,  fled  along,  my 
heart  scarce  beating,  to  the  Quai!  In  five  minutes  we 
were  on  the  river's  frozen  bed.  The  frightened  Ivan 
only  answered  in  monosylables.  But  my  senses  re 
turned  with  the  cold  air  of  the  Neva!  I  found  Olga's 
maid  had  led  him  to  the  woman  for  whose  dear  sake  I 
had  stained  my  hand  with  blood.  '  I  will  be  there,1  she 
said.  I  could  extract  no  more  from  the  affrightened 
serf,  who  lashed  the  horses  on!  As  I  raised  my  hand, 
in  the  pale  moonlight,  I  felt  a  warm  stain  upon  it!  // 
was  blood!  '  Faster!  Faster!*  I  yelled,  and  away  we 
sped  into  the  dark  forest!  I  drank  the  fiery  fluid  from 
Ivan's  flask,  which  he  forced  on  me!  My  head  fell  back 
helplessly  in  the  furs! — When  I  awoke  I  was  roughly 
shaken!  A  Cossack-mounted  police  guard  of  a  dozen 
were  grouped  around!  My  exhausted  horses  lay  dead  vs. 
the  snow,  and  Ivan,  tightly  bound,  was  guarded  by  a 
soldier,  naked  sabre  in  hand! 

"  As  I  struggled  to  my  feet  a  rude  sleigh  approached 
from  a  near  farm  dearie,  an  officer  urging  it  on! 

"The  awful  truth  flashed  over  my  mind!  /  was  a 
prisoner! — Was  I — was  I  a  murderer?  A  stern  police 
agent  roughly  ordered  me  to  enter  the  sleigh;  as  I  did 
my  eyes  met  the  gleam  of  faithful  Ivan!  He  yelled 


44  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

quickly,  '  You  are  betr ay edf* Master!  The  maid  warned 
them!  The  lady  is  a  prisoner,  too!'  I  heard  a  scuffle, 
and  as  I  twisted  my  head  around  my  devoted  follower 
lay  there  prone  on  the  blood-stained  snow,  his  head 
split  open  by  a  sabre  stroke!  — 

"I  knew  nothing  more  till  I  was  dragged  from  a  cell 
before  a  summary  court  in  the  fortress.  On  the  table 
lay  a  package  of  bank  notes!  The  accursed  treasure 
which  was  to  be  the  means  of  bearing  Olga  to  the  para 
dise  we  dreamed  of  in  the  Greek  Sea!  I  stood  mute — 
for  I  knew  nothing!  I  heard  myself  condemned  to  the 
loss  of  all  rights  and  twenty  years  penal  servitude  in 
Siberia!  The  murder  of  mv  uncle  was  the  crime!  I 
learned  from  the  evidence  that  my  uncle  had  returned 
suddenly  from  the  ball,  and,  hearing  the  noise,  the 
brave  old  man  had  sallied  forth  from  his  sleeping  rooms 
to  meet  his  death  at  my  hands  unwittingly.  The  evi 
dent  fact  of  my  belief  that  it  was  only  a  servant,  saved  me 
from  the  doom  of  the  legal  death  for  slaying  a  kinsman! 
When  asked  if  I  had  anything  to  say,  I  caught  the  eye  of 
the  Grand  Duke's  pet  aide-de-camp — my  fellow  in  the 
Czarevitch's  favors!  Across  my  disordered  brain  flashed 
the  thought  of  Olga, — my  helpless  love, — the  idol  of 
my  manly  passion, — the  goddess  of  my  existence!  She 
was  now  a  prisoner, — in  the  power  of  the  haughty  Prince! 
With  her  name  trembling  on  my  lips  I  bowed  my  head 
and  murmured  <  Nothing! '  My  judges  exchanged  sig 
nificant  glances!  I  caught  a  pale,  wintry  smile  of 
approval  from  the  lips' of  the  Czarevitch's  boon  com 
panion!  I  had  been  true  to  my  order! — He  turned 
upon  his  heel  and  left  the  room!  At  least  one  ignominy 
was  spared  me  in  my  downfall, — the  shame  of  betray 
ing  the  private  life  of  the  imperial  master  I  served!  " 
Orlof's  eyes  were  streaming  with  bitter  tears! 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  45 

"Now!  Pierre, — you  know  my  secret!  You  alone 
know  my  rival's  name!  You  alone  can  see  how  an 
overmastering  passion  bore  me  along  in  devious  ways 
to  my  ruin!  That  I  struck  is  true!  But  God  knows  my 
prayers  have  daily  assailed  the  gate  of  Heaven  for  the 
forgiveness  of  my  blind  crime!  /  worshipped  grand  old 
Stephan!  Would  that  I  had  told  him  of  my  unhappy 
love!  Better  had  I  gone  forth  alone,  an  honest  man,  to 
alien  lands!  But  I  was  demented!  The  philtre  of  a 
love  beyond  all  bounds  had  crazed  my  brain!  Followed 
by  the  wail  of  my  orphaned  cousin  I  was  haled  forth 
to  this  barbaric  land!  I  have  never  taken  the  Czare 
vitch's  name  upon  my  lips!  /  am  civilly  dead!  I  shall 
never  mock  the  justice  of  God  by  daring  to  ask  pardon 
of  the  sweet  girl  whose  life  I  have  clouded  with  a  help 
less  sorrow!  I  have  lived  as  an  automaton!  I  only 
knew  that  the  little  Countess  Orlof  is  alive,  the  greatest 
heiress  in  Russia,  and  now  a  world-famous  beauty! 
But,  Pierre,  my  friend  of  older  days,  the  future  is  a 
blank  for  me!  I  dream  of  her  whom  I  have  lost!  Of  the 
darling  woman  I  crushed  to  my  heart  in  a  last  embrace, 
and  whose  name  I  have  never  heard  spoken  since  until 
to-night!  " 

"You  have  not  told  me  yet  who  she  was,  my  poor 
Fedor,"  said  Lefranc,  his  eyes  kindling  with  excitement! 

"She  was  the  loveliest  woman  in  the  White  Czar's 
broad  realm,  and  the  Queen  of  Song!"  slowly  replied 
Orlof,  who  dropped  his  tired  head  upon  his  hands. 
"And  a  wild,  wintry  ocean  divides  us  to-night  on  this 
theatre  of  human  misery, — for  she  too  is  a  prisoner  in  a 
far-off  land!" 

"  The  reigning  Prima  Donna!  "  echoed  Lefranc.  "I 
had  heard  of  such  a  disappearance,  but  I  fancied  that 
she  had  only  hidden  her  nightingale  voice  in  some 


46  THE    T'  T    ALASKA, 

favored  lover's  bower:  "  Standing  up  to  Orlof,  Lefranc 
energetically  exclaimed:  "We  must  escape!  If  we  can 
only  remain  near  each  other!  For  Fedor,".  he  gravely 
said,  "The  Grand  Duke  will  never  forget  and  never  for- 
giver 

"You  are  right!  There  is  no  hope,"  replied  Orlof. 
"And  the  outraged  orthodox  nobles  will  hound  down 
forever  the  Russian  who  killed  a  member  of  his  own 
family.  I  swear  to  you,  Pierre,"  cried  Orlof,  his  eyes 
flashing,  "I  never  dreamed  of  seizing  the  money  till 
poor  Stephan  taunted  me!  I  only  coveted  it  to  send 
my  Olga,  my  defenceless  darling,  out  of  the  jaws  of  a 
double  tyranny!  See  what  a  slender  reed  we  leaned  on! 
The  maid  enriched  herself  from  my  bounty, — spoiled  my 
defenceless  darling,  and  then  coldly  sold  us  both  1o  ruin 
and  sfiamt .' "' 

"It  is  idle  to  think  of  redressing  my  wrong!  The  car 
of  Juggernaut  will  roll  over  me  !  I  have  neither  money, 
power  or  a  single  friend! — I  have  sealed  the  tomb  of  my 
past  life.  One  thought  alone  has  sustained  me!  One 
Star  of  Hope  has  twinkled  in  the  darkness  of  the  years 
in  the  convict  barrack!  To  see  her  again,  to  hear  her 
say:  Fedor!  I  love  you.'  I  forgive  you!  " 

"Ah,  God!  Pierre!  Think  of  these  four  years!  Her 
wasted  life,  her  ruined  career!  Her  sufferings!  A  queen 
of  beauty!  The  child  of  song,  to  be  the  sport  of  Des 
tiny,  the  plaything  of  an  hour!" 

"Was  she  a  Russian?  "  said  Lefrauc,  anxious  to  re 
lieve  Orlof's  distress. 

"Her  mother  was  a  wonderful  Hungarian  child  of 
beauty  and  genius,  and  when  she  died  in  Italy,  her  hus 
band,  a  rich  South  Russian,  left  the  girl  abroad!  His 
death  in  a  riot  of  his  serfs  caused  her  to  be  left  penni 
less,  for  the  mother  was  not  orthodox!  It  was  a  fatal 


PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA*  47 

day  when  my  love  was  lured  to  Petersburg  by  the 
wild  enthusiasm  of  the  dwellers  under  the  northern 
lights!  There  is  nothing  sweeter  than  love!  Nothing 
stranger  than  the  turns  of  Fortune's  wheel!  Nothing 
sadder  than  the  iron  grip  of  Destiny!  " — 

"  Did  you  not  hear  her  story  at  Sitka,  Pierre?  "  eagerly 
asked  Fedor. 

"Alas!  No,  my  poor  friend!  "  answered  the  French 
man.  "This  pitiless  cur,  Fersen,  used  me,  in  secret,  to 
confound  the  officials  whom  he  sharply  catechised.  I 
was  jealously  guarded — At  Kodiak,  we  only  knew  of  the 
outer  world  by  the  annual  visit  of  the  one  San  Francisco 
trading  brig!  I  was  not  allowed  to  communicate  even 
with  the  occasional  whalers  there!  I  tried  to  drink  my 
self  to  death!  Strange  to  say,  the  black  rum  nourished 
me!  The  continued  rain  made  outdoor  holiday  trips 
impossible,  and  the  fierce  brown  bears,  ravenous  for  the 
fish  of  the  shores ,  were  an  effective  guard  in  the  long 
lonely  days  of  my  Kodiak  captivity!  I  sought  surcease 
of  sorrow  in  my  work!  I  was  allowed  sufficient  rough 
creature  comforts.  My  only  pleasure  was  to  learn  the 
Aleut  language  and  the  dialect  of  the  Aliaskans.  I  have 
kept  myself  from  going  mad,  by  work,  stern  and  unre 
mitting,  the  only  panacea  for  a  broken  heart!" 

"Were  you  well  treated?"  asked  Orlof. 
"My  jailers,  as  a  rule,  were  coarsely  good-humored. 
—There  was  nothing  to  gain  by  torturing  me! — I  had 
sunk  beneath  human  notice.  Besides,  if  they  killed  me, 
they  lost  their  only  naval  constructor!  If  I  died  worn 
out,  or  was  thrown  in  a  dungeon,  the  necessary  work 
would  be  paralyzed!  The  officials  spent  their  time 
making  secret  hoards  of  rich  furs,  debauching  the  half- 
breed  women,  or  drinking  and  gambling, — When  a 
Russian  war  vessel  touched  at  Kodiak,  a  hell  brew  of 


48  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

flaming  rum  punch  kept  all  hands  mad  while  the  orgies 
could  be  kept  up! " 

"And  you  tell  me  you  tried  once  to  escape!  If  you 
failed  alone,  how  can  we  succeed  together?  I  do  not 
know  if  I  wish  now  to  escape  !  If  Olga  is  at  Sitka 
she  will  be  all  the  world  to  me!  " 

"There  will  be  many  chances  open  to  us  in  the 
changes  to  come!  "  said  Lefranc.  "  If  the  Americans 
buy  Alaska,  the  clearing  out  and  general  removal  will 
relax  the  vigilance  of  all  our  guards." — How  to  get  you 
over  there  is  the  one  present  trouble!  You  are  to  go  up 
the  Amur  with  this  brute  Fersen.  He  needs  watching! 
He  is  a  cruel  tyrant!  Beware  of  rousing  him!  It  means 
Death!" 

"So  it  seems,"  doggedly  answered  Orlof.  "But  he 
hates  me  already!  He  would  try  and  thwart  any  wish  I 
might  dare  to  prefer!  He  may  know  the  old  story!  I 
may  not  hope  to  win  his  favor!  " 

"Then  watch  your  own  behavior  every  moment.  Let 
your  attitude  be  only  one  of  callous  indifference. — I  am 
to  have  necessary  dealings  with  the  Commanding-Gen 
eral  here  to  fill  all  the  requisitions  of  the  Aliaskan  re 
pair  yards  needed  to  put  all  Government  property  and 
craft  in  working  order.  If  General  Dachkof  favors  me 
at  all,  I  can  demand  your  help!  I  am  the  only  capable 
man  they  have!  Now,  you  are  professionally  fitted  to 
help  me!  Let  us  conceal  our  friendship,  and,  on  your 
return,  I  will  boldly  ask  for  your  aid! — I  can  feign  illness 
and  overwork. — I  know  the  '  Seevoutch'  is  sorely  needed 
on  the  other  coast!  Dachkof,  naturally  zealous,  will 
hurry  her  departure!  But  beware  of  this  Fersen,  he  is 
an  icy-hearted  brute!  His  eyes  can  read  a  prisoner's 
inmost  soul!" 

"Now,   Fedor,   as  to  our  secret    plan!" — Two  years 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  49 

ago,  an  American  whaler  put  in  at  Kodiak,  to  land  the 
third  mate,  a  young  fellow  who  was  invaluable  to  them, 
for  he  knew  every  inlet  of  the  Arctic.  I  was  in  the  hos 
pital  with  him  and,  thanks  to  my  English,  (acquired  in 
handling  our  hired  British  shipwrights),  we  could  con 
fer  safely.  Raised  from  boy,  drudge  and  cook,  by  his 
thirst  for  gold,  and  marvellous  wit,  this  Aleck  McMann 
is  a  singular  character! — He  drinks  not;  he  stores  up 
the  secrets  of  his  trade  for  his  future  promotion,  and  he 
speaks  every  dialect  of  the  Ochotsk,  the  Arctic  and  the 
Behring  Seas.  He  was  cast  away  two  years  among  the 
Tchuktches  on  the  Kamschatkan  peninsula.  He  also 
knows  the  fur  and  ivory  trade — its  every  secret — and  he 
can  handle  the  friendly,  but  wily  Siberian  coast  tribes, 
who  wait  for  his  annual  visit.  We  became  very  inti 
mate,  as  I  aided  him  greatly!" 

"I  burned  for  my  freedom!  I  could  see  McMann's 
slyness,  and  bargain  for  bargain,  /  agreed  to  be  of  use 
to  him!  After  a  duel  of  wits,  he  finally  promised  to  aid 
me  in  my  escape!  Every  year,  his  ship  leaves  San 
Francisco  in  March,  returning  in  October.  He  had 
promised  to  aid  me  to  reach  California,  and  to  further 
my  fortunes.  In  return,  I  am  to  watch  all  the  Aleut 
and  Eskimo  tribes,  the  seal  and  otter  hunters  and  the 
interior  natives  of  the  Yukon,  for  the  secret  source  of 
their  gold  supplies!  McMann  has  found  the  Aliaskan 
natives  above  Sitka,  around  Chicagoff  Island  and  the 
Takou  River,  to  have  great  quantities  of  grain  gold,  of 
which  they  do  not  know  the  value! — By  secret  visits  to 
Cross  Sound,  McMann  has  bartered  cargoes  of  rum  with 
these  natives  for  this  gold  dust  at  an  enormous  profit! 
—In  order  to  avoid  the  war  vessels  at  Sitka,  and  the 
leading  Russian  authorities,  McMann,  (who  is  the 
guiding  spirit)  induces  his  owners  to  make  Kodiak 


50  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

Island  their  refitting  port.  He  gets  the  rum  from  the 
corrupt  Russian  officials  there,  paying  in  American 
coined  gold,  and  also  taking  their  stolen  furs,  secretly 
robbed  from  the  Russian  Government  tribute, at  enormous 
prices.  He  has  promised  to  rescue  me  next  year,  if  I  can 
find  for  him  the  source  of  the  gold  dust  which  the  natives 
of  Cross  Sound  obtain  in  such  plenty.  I  see  these  natives 
for  months  yearly,  and  I  have  gained  their  confidence 
though  they  are  sly  and  artful!  He  keeps  all  the  gold 
dust  transactions  a  close  secret." 

Lefranc  filled  his  glass. 

"  I  will  be  brief ! — McMann  is  a  compound  of  sailor, 
miser,  trader  and  pirate! — I  know  that  he  left  the 
trusting  natives  of  a  Plover  Bay  village  dead  after  a 
debauch  in  which  he  cruelly  gave  them  barrels  of 
poisoned  rum  as  a  present,  and  then,  removed  an  enor 
mously  valuable  cargo  of  whalebone, — their  only  wealth! 
I  fear  this  brute  McMann,  so  I  have  lied  1o  him!  He 
knows  my  influence  over  the  Aliaskan  natives,  and  1 

have  magnified  it! For  he  is  my  only  hope!  He  may 

save  both  of  us  later !"- 

"Now,  if  I  can  effect  your  removal  to  Kodiak,  we 
could  easily  pretend  to  have  discovered  the  location  of 
the  treasure  region, — and  it  is  probably  some  coast 
volcanic  island,  and  next  year,  we  must  flatter  him  and 
escape  with  him.  He  will  naturally  return  to  California 
to  confer  with  his  owners!  Then,  once  at  San  Francisco, 
we  are  free!  We  can  bid,  even  him,  defiance!  On 
American  soil,  the  Czar's  spies  can  rage  in  vain!" 

"I  will  think  it  over!  I  might  perhaps  escape  from 
here,  now,  into  Mantchuria  and  Corea  and  finally  gain 
China  or  Japan,"  thoughtfully  said  Orlof. 

"True!  But  the  woods  here  are  full  of  the  gigantic 
tigers  of  the  Amur  forest!  You  have  no  help!  no  sup- 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  51 

plies!  no  money!  no  arms!  You  would  surely  perish 
like  the  thousands  whose  bones  have  been  gnawed  by 
the  wolf  packs  of  these  pathless  woods!  It  is  an  almost 
impossible  task!  Again,  if  your  Olga  is  at  Sitka, 
Fedor,  you  might  be  able  to  aid  her!  The  little  Princess 
of  Aliaska  may  be  able  to  help  you  both!"  Lefranc 
smoothly  said. 

Orlof  sprang  to  his  feet. "  I  am  yours  to  the  death! 

We  must  cast  our  lots  together!" 

"For  Olga's  sake!" 

"I  will  stay  with  you  to  the  very  last!"  pledged 
Lefranc,  as  their  hands  met.  The  two  companions  in 
misery  threw  themselves  down  at  last  on  the  fur  couches, 
for  the  dying  fire  now  told  of  the  early  morning  hours. 
In  low  tones,  the  excited  comrades,  wooing  sleep  in 
vain,  spoke  of  the  prisoner 's  one  hope — a  plot  for  liberty! — 

"  T)\&  you  not  try  to  escape?"  said  Orlof. 

"  Last  year,  McMann  prepared  a  hiding  place  for  me 
on  the  '  Reindeer,'  his  trading  vessel,  and  flew  a  signal 
which  we  had  agreed  on  to  warn  me  for  two  days  before 
they  left  Kodiak.  Stern  and  silent,  he  is  the  autocrat  of 
his  vessel.  —  He  only  needs  a  little  more  practice  in 
scientific  navigation  to  have  a  separate  command.  He 
promised  me  to  stand  up  and  down,  off  St.  Paul  Bay, 
for  a  night,  as  I  had  concealed  months  before,  a  good 
Kayak  or  skin  boat  among  some  refuse  harbor  material. 
In  furtive  visits,  I  had  stored  this  light  thirty  foot  canoe 
with  some  provisions,  bottles  of  water,  hard  rye  bread, 
and  dried  meat  and  fish.  A  native  jacket  and  hooded 
cap,  a  few  cords  and  a  spare  double  handed  paddle  were 
my  list  of  treasures!" 

"  Oh,  God!  Orlof  f  How  I  counted  the  crawling 
moments  till  the  dark  eventful  day  when  the  'Reindeer' 
stood  out  of  the  harbor! — It  was  easy  for  me  to  leave 


52  TIIF.     I'RINCF>S    OF     ALASKA. 

my  own  but  at  sundown,  as  there  is  no  fear  there  of  any 
convict  quitting  the  mountainous  island! — I  had  only  to 
report  daily  at  my  work.  It  was  one  of  the  few  fair 
days  of  the  year,  when  I  marked  at  sundown  the 
American  bark  with  its  tell-tale  streamer  flying  at  the 
mizzen,  standing  off  and  on!  The  lazy  Russian  officials 
deemed  her  only  watching  for  bowhead  whales. — In  the 
silence  of  a  chill  starlit  night,  I  dragged  the  light  boat 
to  the  water's  edge,  and  I  had  marked  out  the  course  by 
the  tall  peaks  around  the  bay  of  Chiniatskoy! — I  had 
stolen  two  bottles  of  rum,  some  tobacco  and  a  flint  and 
steel. — With  the  vigor  of  despair,  I  put  boldly  to  sea  in 
the  frail  canoe!  — I  had  marked  the  movements  of  the 
stars,  and  well  I  knew  the  local  currents! — I  paddled 
out  of  the  harbor  undetected!" 

"  I  prayed  to  God — the  God  so  heedless  of  the  down 
trodden  prison  wretches  of  Siberia, — to  hold  back  the 
daylight  fog!  For,  if  at  dawn  the  whaler  was  in  sighf, 
with  my  spare  paddle  and  some  old  red  cloth,  I  could 
rig  up  a  signal!  Out  alone  in  the  darkness,  my  Kayak 
tossed  hither  and  thither  by  the  shore  surf;  I  voyaged 
boldly  on  a  lonely  sea,  in  the  single  hope  of  the  long 

delayed  rescue! The  natives  even  sleep  lashed  in 

these  Kayaks,  balancing  with  the  instinct  of  generations 
of  canoe  men!  I  drifted  when  I  could  paddle  no  more!" 
—I  woke  to  renewed  exertions! 

"I  toiled  manfully!  In  the  dark  silence  of  the  night, 
I  implored  the  mercy  of  God  for  one  of  His  meanest 
creatures !  My  arms  soon  became  stiff, — I  became 
chilled,  and  even  the  fiery  rum  failed  to  keep  me  awake! 
—The  gray,  wet,  icy  fog  closed  in  like  a  pall  of  death 
around  me  ! — My  mind  ran  in  dreams  over  my  wasted 
life!  I  lived  again  the  Petersburg  student  days  !  The 
scenes  of  riot  and  wassail  came  back!  The  sinful  hours! 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  53 

My  wanton  deeds!  The  shameless  errors  of  caste  and 
vicious  impulse!  The  cruel  whistling  winds  menaced 
me  !  Dark  avenging  shapes  seemed  to  pursue  !  My 
shaken  nerves  lost  their  control  of  my  wearied  brain! 
On  I  drove  through  the  anxious  night!" 

—  "Dashed  madly  on  in  the  gloom,  I  was  in  an  ex 
alted  state  of  mental  tension,  born  of  fatigue,  exertion 
and  mental  excitement!  I  was  again  at  Sevastopol!  My 
foolish  mad  career  among  the  patrician  nobles  of  the 
south  returned!  I  heard  again  the  exciting  rattle  of  the 
gold  at  the  roulette  table! — I  thrilled  once  more  with 
the  shrill  laughter  of  those  smiling  vampire  women  who 
helped  me  to  throw  away  the  Czar's  gold,  after  Pierre 
Lefranc  became  an  embezzler  and  a  cheat!  Luxury, 
pampered  social  vice,  emulation  of  the  reckless  Russian 
gentry,  swamping  me  in  an  insensate  whirl  of  reckless 
ness, — all  this  came  back  to  me!  I  woke  with  an  icy 
wave  drenching  me!" — 

"Alas!  The  airs  of  morning  blew  the  fog  away  from 
my  drifting  Kayak,  only  to  show  me  no  sail  in  sight  and, 
as  I  lifted  my  wretched  head,  the  salt  spray  half  drowned 
me,  a  miserable,  drifting,  helpless  creature!  Great 
clinging  shapes  of  leaden  fog  wheeled  and  veered 
around. — I  knew  then  that  all  was  lost  and, — in  despair, 
—  I  slept  in  utter  insensibility! — When  I  recovered  my 
senses,  I  was  in  a  shore  camp  of  the  Kodiak  natives! 
An  otter  spearing  party  had  found  my  stranded  canoe 
entangled  in  some  rocks  of  the  headland,  whither  the 
shore  current  of  the  morning  tide  had  swept  me! 
Knowing  my  awful  punishment,  if  detected,  I  glibly  told 
them  I  had  essayed  a  fishing  trip  in  a  stray  kayak,  and 
was  carried  out  to  sea!  I  was  taken  back  to  the  settle 
ment  and  kindly  received.  The  '  Reindeer  '  was  hull 
4 


54  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

down   on   the  open   sea!      I  had   failed!     And  hope  fled 
my  breast!" — 

My  brutal  superiors  easily  believed  the  tale.  But  the 
star  of  hope  had  set  for  another  long  winter  in  the 
misery  of  an  Arctic  prison!  You  know  what  that  means! 
Tempting  insanity! — 

Now,  on  this  year's  visit,  McMann,  who  was  forced  to 
put  to  sea  to  avoid  the  dangerous  fog,  has  promised  to 
have  a  boat's  crew  wait  in  a  hidden  inlet,  and  surely 
bear  me  off  to  the  ship!  He  can  transfer  me  at  sea  to 
another  Yankee  ship! — But  I  must  discover  the  secret  of 
the  Gold  Island!  On  this  hangs  my  salvation,  unless 
by  a  prisoner's  cunning  I  can  deceive  him  till  I  am  safe! 
All  convicts  are  liars  I — and  I  am  one  of  them]  I  owe  the 
world — my  fellow  man — nothing  now  I  I  am  a  human 
zero'." — 

Pierre  Lefranc  ceased  with  a  start,  for  the  heart 
broken  Orlof  slept,  and  the  worn  and  haggard  French 
man  then  drifted  away  into  the  land  of  unhappy  dreams, 
to  wake  with  his  strangely  met  companion  at  the  sound 
of  the  bugles  calling  the  whole  garrison  up  to  meet  that 
most  captious  dignitary,  Count  Fersen  in  a  grand 
review! 

Two  days  later,  the  swiftest  stern  wheeled^  steamboat 
on  the  Amur,  bore  Count  Fersen  and  his  suite  away  from 
the  Nikolaevsk  landing. 

Thunderous  cannon,  the  wild  martial  music,  the 
houras  of  the  soldiers,  gave  a  manufactured  enthusiasm 
to  the  flitting  of  the  official  stormy  petrel  who  had  stirred 
up  the  headquarters  community. 

Fete  and  ball,  feast  and  parade,  marked  the  parting 
hours!  Apparently  careless,  Count  Fersen  still  saw 
Pierre  Lefranc  busied  at  his  duties,  as  he  gave  his  sealed 
orders  to  the  corvette  captain  with  his  own  hand. 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  $$ 

"Let  this  naval  constructor  have  any  help  he  needs, 
General1  Treat  the  fellow  well!  He  is  only  repaying  the 
Emperor  for  a  few  score  of  stolen  thousands  of  roubles!  His 
peculiar  vices  are  quite  gentlemanly — pretty  women  and 
roulette! 

"  I  shall  have  that  aristocratic  murderer  of  yours  keep 
my  official  journal  as  far  as  Nerchinsk!  If  he  makes  me 
as  good  a  report  as  he  did  you,  I  won't  grudge  him  a  few 
hundred  roubles  to  drink  away  the  bloody  visions  of  his 
crime!  Why  the  devil  did  he  not  kill  himself!  He  was 
once  a  noble  gentleman  and  has  really  good  blood  in  his 
veins! 

"From  Nerchinsk,  I  shall  go  on  day  and  night,  by  re 
lay  imperial  post  sleigh,  and  there  will  then  be  no  jour 
nal to  keep!  I  know  that  sixty  days  of  devilish  monot 
ony!  The  wailing  forest!  The  sparkling  snow  drifts! 
The  dirty  log  post  stations!  A  dash  from  a  mad  wolf 
pack,  and  a  four  thousand  miles  view  of  a  drunken 
peasant  driver's  back!  Ah,  tJie  service!" 

"  But,  Dachkof,  you  lucky  dog,  you  will  retire  in  three 
years  on  a  double  pension,  with  a  dozen  new  orders  and 
medals,  and  you  will  drop  into  a  place  in  the  brilliant 
circle  of  the  Winter  palace!  You  can  forget  in  sunning 
yourself  in  the  smiles  of  that  daring,  dainty  bevy  of  the 
tempting  women  of  the  Court,  these  lonely  frontier 
days!"— 

Fersen  sighed!  He  was  a  scientific  voluptuary, — and 
his  keen,  glittering  Tartar  eye  was  as  unmoved  by 
woman's  helpless  tears,  as  by  the  blood  of  the  defence 
less  men  who  fell  victims  of  his  relentless  rage! — 

"/,  my  dear  Dachkof,"  he  said,  as  he  drew  his  superb 
fur  gloves  over  hands  sparkling  with  exquisitely  rich  rings, 
"  I  am  doomed  to  be  an  official  favorite  of  the  Czar!" 


56  THE    PRINCESS    OK    A I  ASKA. 

The  Count  noted  Orlof,  note-book  and  sketch  book  in 
hand,  ready  at  his  post. 

11  Do  your  best,  fellow! — or  you  may  find  a  hundred 
lashes  waiting  you  at  Nerchinsk!  " 

This  was  the  noble  Count  Fersen's  encouragement! — 

As  the  boat  sped  up  the  broad,  rushing  stream,  Fedor 
Orlof  gazed  at  the  shores  of  the  mighty  river,  and  was 
tormented  with  a  wild  desire  to  snatch  the  gun  of  a 
guard,  blow  Fersen's  head  to  pieces,  and  then  throw 
himself  into  the  crystal  flood,  which  seen  ed,  gliding 
darkly  below  to  tempt  him  to  the  unknown  depths  of 
the  sea  of  Death!— 

But  he  held  his  peace — for  three  long  weeks  of  un 
ceasing  brutality,  the  face  of  a  guardian  angel — Olga 
Darine,  haunted  his  slumbers! — The  man  who  now  lived 
but  to  see  that  dear  memory-painted  face  once  again, 
treasured  but  her  dream-face,  and  her  troth  ring — two 
reminders  of  his  hopes  of  the  future,  the  safeguards  of  his 
yet  human  identity! — The  dream-face  smiled  on  the  poor 
prisoner  of  the  Amur — a  tyrant's  victim  day  by  day! — 

For  cheery,  bustling  Pierre  Lefranc  was  already  gain 
ing  an  influence  over  General  Dachkof,  who  was  struck 
with  the  Gallic  adroitness  of  the  talented  man! 

Lefranc  had  whispered  to  Orlof  in  adieu:  "  I  will 
manage  to  win  over  old  Dachkof!  Remember  I  The 
American  whaler  and  free  Join  I  " 

And  the  silent  kindness  of  the  old  General  touched 
Orlof  and  melted  his  heart  when  he  found  himself  re 
lieved  from  sleeping  on  the  open  deck  with  the  other  con 
vict  si — The  steamer's  captain  pointed  to  a  small,  but 
decent,  lower  hold  mate's  room,  saying:  "  J?y  the  Gen 
eral 's  orders!" — and  therein,  Orlof  found  a  pack  of  fur 
robes,  a  traveler's  outfit,  and  the  personal  stores  com 
mon  to  the  country. 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  57 

This  charity  restrained  his  defiant  recklessness  of  heart! 
—On  past  the  wild  witching  beauty  of  the  Mantchurian 
shores,  past  fort  and  growing  settlement,  under  embat 
tled  crags  covered  with  old  Tartar  tombs,  around  the 
great  bend,  past  the  hostile  Chinese  frontier  shores, 
from  whence  a  dropping  fire  often  galled  them,  the  light 
boat  forced  its  way.  And,  cool,  cruel  and  sly  as  Count 
Fersen  was  in  his  deviltry,  he  secretly  marvelled  at 
Orlof's  artistic  work,  his  gentle,  proud  bearing,  and  the 
patient  parrying  of  every  insult! — He  was  baffled  by  the 
silence  of  the  man  helpless  in  the  grasp  of  fate!— 

"You  can  tell  General  Dachkof  that  I  say  you  are  a 
superior  scoundrel!"  said  Fersen,  at  parting.  —  "Here  is 
five  hundred  roubles  for  you!  "  Orlof  thought  of  Olga,  and 
smiled! — 


CHAPTER   III. 

AT    SITKA A    PR1MA    loNNA    IN    DISGUISE FIRST    MATE 

M'MANN        i  in    CZAR'S    r  \KT\KR — "i  CAN 

\VA11   "         1  lil     SALE    OF   AN   E MI-IRE. 

Fedor  Orlof's  first  impulse,  when  Count  Fersen 
tossed  him  the  bills,  was  to  cast  them  back  in  the  tyrant's 
face!  But  his  good  angel  warned  him  in  time  to  save 
the  back  of  an  Orlof  from  the  prison  sergeant's  knout! 

"/  am  penniless  /"  he  reflected,  as  he  sat  on  the  deck 
of  the  returning  boat,  sweeping  past  the  great  icy  peaks 
of  the  Yablanof,  rising  snow-capped  to  the  north,  and 
"  these  five  bits  of  greasy  green  paper  are  concrete  poicer! 
Should  I  reach  Sitka,  even  this  taunting  offering  of  a 
cold  brute  might  buy  my  way  to  helpless  Olga  Darine's 
presence!  It  may  even  serve  to  bribe  the  way  for  my 
letters!"— 

And  the  ruined  nobleman  carefully  sewed  the  hard 
won  bills  within  the  lining  of  the  warm  convict  coat, 
which  kind  old  Dachkof  had  ordered  made,  by  covering 
one  of  his  own  with  the  prisoner '  s  cloth  and  fi/a!  black 
patch! 

Relieved  from  Fersen's  exactions,  delighting  in  the 
superb  scenery  of  the  Shilka,  Fedor  was  light  of  heart, 
as  the  boat  swept  downward  from  the  Nerchinsk. — Count 
Fersen's  secret  communications  to  General  Dachkof 
were  borne  by  Adjutant  Vronsky,  happy  in  his  release. 
With  growing  annoyance,  the  handsome  young  soldier 
had  noted  Count  Fersen's  easy  conquests  of  the  bright 
eyed  free  lances  who  managed  to  share  in  the  splen 
did  luxuries  of  the  Count's  semi-imperial  progress. 
The  Emperor's  favorite  was  not  aware  that  crcn  he 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  59 

was  plucked,  as  he  passed,  by  these  wily  women  who 
had  not  lost  the  arts  of  the  reckless  coquette  on  the 
far  away  lonely  Siberian  river  mirroring  the  polar  stars! 
—With  wine  and  song — in  furtive  dalliance,  Fersen 
relaxed  his  tiger-like  nature! — A  Russian  to  the  cord — 

It  was  in  easy  good  humor,  as  he  debarked  at  Ner 
chinsk,  that  Fersen  turned  his  head  away  from  the  mis 
chievous  dark  eyes  of  a  handsome  belle,  clinging  to  his 
arm — and  said  patronizingly, 

"  Hurry  off  the  Seev&utch!  Vronsky!  tell  the  General 
he  has  my  carte  blanche!  I  want  everything  done  to 
help  Maxutoff  out  over  in  Aliaska! — The  Prince  may 
not  get  his  supplies  from  home  next  year.  If  the  coun 
try  is  sold,  Maxutoff  will  have  to  dismantle  the  whole 
territory!  By  the  way,  General  Dachkof  can  send  this 
fellow  Or  to f  over  to  Prince  Maxutoff  I  The  scoundrel  is 
really  accomplished !  I  never  saw  a  finer  report  and 
sketches!  Just  have  Dachkof  transfer  him  and  his  offi 
cial  papers  to  Maxutoff' s  jurisdiction  !  The  Prince  can 
send  him  back  later  to  Siberia  with  the  convict  detach 
ment  which  is  there!  Make  a  special  note  of  it  I" 

Vronsky  bowed  in  silence,  as  Count  Fersen,  murmur 
ing  a  tender  apology,  gallantly  aided  the  'pet  lamb'  he 
guarded  into  a  superb  carriage.  The  Sultana  of  a  month 
had  soon  forgotten  the  lonely  grave  of  her  brave  hus 
band,  killed  by  fierce  Mantchurians  in  the  gloomy 
forests  of  the  Ussuri!  For  she  was  being  escorted  home 
in  royal  state! — The  envy  of  other  Siberian  Phrynes!— 

Where  the  gold  tasselled  sword  of  the  officer  glitters, 
the  silken  rustle  of  the  richly  gowned  woman  adventur 
ess  is  heard  along  Life's  strange  paths!  Hand  in  hand, 
war  and  gallantry  leave  their  traces  from  tropic  to  pole! 
Vronsky  forgot  his  temporary  eclipse  as  a  military  Don 
Juan,  in  sadly  musing  over  poor  Orlof's  strange  fate! — 


6o  THF     I'KINVF.SS    <>l      ALASKA. 

The  General's  Adjutant  treated  the  prisoner  with  a 
IJIMYI.'  sympathy,  for  the  weird  horror  of  his  unwitting 
crime  was  known  in  the  upper  official  circles! — There 
seemed  to  be  no  hope  for  the  victim  of  one  mad  hour! — 

"How  strange!  At  the  mere  ivJiim  of  a  passing 
official,  this  man's  whole  destiny  is  changed!" 

Vronsky,  gazing  at  Orlof,  who  had  fifteen  days  of 
freedom  before  him  in  the  downward  trip  to  refresh  his 
exhausted  mental  forces;  did  not  dream  that  the  tor 
menting  caprice  of  relentless  Fersen  was  leading  the 
hopeless  noble  convict  toward  the  one  beloved  being  on 
earth  whose  lips  now  framed  the  name  of  Fedor  Orlof 
— forgotten  by  all  the  gay  world  in  his  saddening  down 
fall! — Past  the  sculptured  crests  of  the  purple  Khingan 
mountains  beyond  the  Mongolian  frontier,  the  swift 
steamer  sped  away  down  stream  in  its  arrowy  flight!— 
At  dawn,  at  noon,  in  the  pearl  gray  of  evening,  or  by 
the  pale  silvery  moonlight,  Fedor  Orlof's  eyes  drank  in 
the  beauties  of  gorge  and  silent  river  reach, — of  long 
wooded  stretches  of  the  fragrant  birch  and  silvered 
maples,  the  air  redolent  with  the  odors  of  the  wild  Sibe 
rian  roses!  A  lonely  unawakened  Paradise! 

In  these  blessed  hours  of  ease,  the  wearied  convict's 
heart  lightened,  his  eye  brightened,  and  his  supple  form 
renewed  its  youthful  vigor.  For  a  month  and  a  half, 
he  was  freed  from  the  daily  brutality  of  the  sentinels, 
and  the  hoarse  bawling  of  the  brutal  sergeants!  These 
bull-dogs  of  regimental  life  were  distant!  But  the  pris 
oner's  life  lay  before  him  once  more!  <  Twenty  years' 
had  stunned  him  when  the  judge  decreed  it! 

Something  in  the  virginal  freedom  and  freshness  of 
the  great  river,  ever  beloved  by  the  wild  Mongol  Tartars, 
stole  back  into  his  tired  heart,  he  forgot  his  sorrows, 
and  he  was  again  in  his  wonted  mental  poise  when  he 


THE  PRINCF.SS  OF  ALASKA.  6l 

sought  his  poor  hut,  unwelcomed  and  unnoticed,  as  the 
steamer's  fires  died  out  at  Nikolaevsk! — He  had  trav 
ersed  almost  an  Empire's  borders  in  his  thankless  task. 
The  poor  outcast  heart  was  faithful  even  in  sleep!  For 
that  night  he  dreamed  that  he  clasped  the  Lost  Love 
again  to  his  heart! 

He  woke  with  a  start  from  wild  delicious  dreams  of 
golden  haired  Olga  Darine!  Through  the  strange  scenes 
of  the  Baikal,  of  the  Chinese  border,  with  its  savage 
tribes,  wild  beauty  and  varied  panorama,  he  wandered, 
haunted  by  the  darling  face  of  his  lost  love!  But  the 
singing  bugles  of  reveille  called  him  again  to  the  inspec 
tion  line! — It  was  a  cruel  awakening,  yet  he  was  once 
more  near  Pierre  Lefranc!  The  very  thought  of  the 
alert  cunning  Frenchman  renewed  his  courage,  as,  in 
the  chill  air  of  dawn,  he  realized  again  his  own  felon 
station!— 

"Here's  our  fine  gentleman  again"  jeered  the  Cor 
poral  and  fierce  Sergeant,  and  even  the  peasant  sentinel 
too,  had  his  coarse  insult!  The  upstart  is  always  a  brute 
at  heart:  The  brute  at  heart  is  a  brutal  taskmaster! 

Lingering  alone,  waiting  for  orders,  in  his  squalid  hut 
till  noon,  Orlof  sprang  forward  nimbly,  as  a  cossack 
rider  reined  up  at  the  hut  door,  ordering  him  to  report 
at  once  at  headquarters! 

"  Was  it  an  eddy  in  the  current  of  Fate!  Whither 
would  it  bear  him  away!" 

He  was  in  ignorance  of  Fersen's  orders, — forVronsky's 
military  prudence  had  not  been  violated. — Ready  in  the 
stream,  lay  the  waiting  "  Seevoutch,"  her  black  sides 
gleaming,  and  her  grinning  ports  open! — The  blue  Peter 
at  the  mast  head  told  of  sailing  orders.  The  river's 
bosom  was  alive  with  boats  and  tugs  flitting  about  the 
deeply  laden  cruiser. — And,  as  yet,  no  sign  of  Pierre 


62  THI      IKIN.    I  <s     01     A  I    \<KA. 

Lefranc!  Hastily  ushered  into  Geneial  Dachkof's  work 
ing  room,  Orlof  started  as  hi-  beheld  convict  Lefranc, 
seated  at  ease,  working  at  a  table  with  the  Adjutant! 
—The  ex-naval  officer  was  aiding  the  Adjutant  in  sealing 
huge  bundles  of  those  voluminous  papers  which  the 
Russian  official  so  dearly  loves. 

The  General  returned  Orlof  s  smart  salute  in  a  grave 
silence.  Referring  to  the  notes  of  his  Adjutant,  he 
broke  the  silence  in  reading,  while  the  prisoner's  very 
heart  stopped  beating! — His  fate  awaited  him! 

"  No.  24190!"  he  read  from  a  memorandum  order, 
"you  are  hereby  transferred  to  the  jurisdiction  of  His 
Excellency  Governor  General  Prince  Maxutoff,  oj 
Aliaska! — You  will  be  embarked  on  the  corvette  at 
nightfall.  She  sails  on  the  morning  tide.  Adjutant 
Yronsky  will  furnish  you  with  all  the  necessaries  of  the 
voyage.  You  are  now  warned  that  any  attempt  at 
escape  will  be  punished  with  death!— 

By  the  order  of  His  Excellency  Count  Ferseu,  Im 
perial  Inspector  of  Prisons !"- 

Fedor  Orlof  bowed  in  silence,  but  met  a  furtive  glance 
of  Pierre  Lefranc's  eyes  with  a  wild  see  ret  joy!  The 
path  of  a  river  life  was  opening  out  before  him!  Over 
the  far  storm-swept  Ochotsk  through  the  hovering  fogs 
of  Behring  Sea,  the  furrowed  wake  of  the  swift  steamer 
left  a  hopeless  prison  life  alone  behind  him.  But  there, 
though  he  left  the  rich,  enchanting  Amur  valley, 
draining  unknown  empires  and  destined  to  be  the  home 
yet  of  happy  millions,  there,  over  the  icy  unknown 
seas,  the  beacon  of  Olga  Darine's  eyes  led  him  on  to  a 
secret  happiness, — a  living  hope! 

Welcome  the  rough  mountains — the  glacier  guarded 
shores, — the  rain-clouded  clime,  the  lonely  forests  and 
silent  rocky  inlets! — There  in  far  Aliaska,  peopled  by 


THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA.  63 

rude  savages  and  squalid  half-breds, — behind  the 
guarded  doors  of  Baranoff's  old  manorial  castle,  perched 
high  on  its  rocky  hill  in  Sitka  Bay,  was  imprisoned  the 
angel  faced  woman  whose  voice  thrilled  yet  in  his  heart! 

As  he  he  stood  waiting,  General  Dachkof  said: 
"Orlof,  you  take  a  good  prison  character  with  you! — 
On  your  voyage,  you  will  assist  this  man  in  the  care  of 
the  government  supplies  and  their  distribution. — You 
will  learn  your  duties  from  Lefranc,  from  whom  you  can 
learn  much  of  Alaska!  You  will  not  leave  your  cabin 
here  until  conducted  on  board  at  sundown.  Here!"  the 
old  General  kindly  extended  a  packet. 

When  the  "  Seevoutch "  was  gliding  out  over  the 
delta  bar,  and  the  shores  of  Siberia  were  fading  forever 
from  his  sight,  the  tears  came  to  Orlof's  eyes,  as  he 
examined  the  little  bundle! — It  contained  a  purse  with  a 
liberal  rouleau  of  gold  imperials,  and  the  few  words  in 
the  General's  own  handwriting  were  more  precious  than 
the  welcome  treasure  ! — The  whole  was  concealed  in 
several  bundles  of  Dachkof's  best  cigars. 

The  scrawl  bore  the  words:  "  I  have  sent  a  few  words 
to  Maxutoff  in  your  behalf.  You  may  earn  his  favor! 
Be  of  good  cheer!  I  knew  and  honored  your  fat  tier!"  - 

And  keeping  this  a  secret,  even  from  Pierre  Lefranc, 
Orlof  would  fain  have  thanked  the  warm  hearted  old 
soldier,  whose  fear  of  official  spies  had  prevented  more 
open  kindnesses.  His  eyes  were  clouded,  as  he  read 
the  note. 

"The  only  human  heart  moved  in  kindness  toward  the 
saddest  of  men!  Hail,  to  you!  brave  old  Dachkof!" 
cried  Orlof,  as  the  staunch  steamer  darted  over  the 
roughened  Ochotsk.  He  turned  cheerfully  to  his  daily 
work.— 

Pierre  Lefranc   was   admitted  to   the  chart  and  navi- 


64  THE    PRINCESS    01    A I   ISKA, 

gating  room  in  the  necessary  freedom  of  his  duties. 
Hour  by  hour,  the  re-united  comrades  pored  over  the 
maps  of  the  vast  North  Pacific! 

"We  must  know  every  nook  of  the  shores  on  both 
sides!"  counseled  Lefranc. 

"  Use  every  moment  in  acquiring  information!  We 
know  not  where  Fate  may  lead  us!  Keep  your  ears 
open  in  the  presence  of  the  officers!  Learn  even  from 
the  sailors  !  We  are  to  skirt  Khamschatka  on  this 
voyage,  leaving  stores  at  Petropauloski,  then  by  Copper 
Islands,  sweep  over  to  Fort  Tongass,  Wrangel  and 
Sitka.  The  Governor  General  may  need  such  a  man  as 
you  as  tutor  to  the  little  Princess  of  Alaska!  I  will 
probably  be  sent  to  close  up  the  constructions  at  Kodiak. 
We  could  do  nothing  this  winter,  but  I  will  concert  with 
McMann,  and  next  season  we  must  scheme  to  be 
together!  Then  we  can  make  a  dash!  It  is  now  one 
future, — one  fate, — one  common  interest, — the  road  to 
Freedom!  IVe  must  escape!" 

It  was  in  the  middle  of  September,  when  the 
"Seevoutch"  drew  away  from  the  dangerous  shallows 
of  the  Straits  of  Tartary.  At  a  rude  settlement  on  wild 
Saghalien  Island, — the  disputed  prey  of  Japan  and 
Russia, — Fedor  Orlof  marked  crowds  of  dejected 
wretches  toiling  in  the  coal  mines,  under  the  guard  of 
the  most  brutal  of  the  White  Czar's  soldiery. 

Escape  was  there  none  for  these  poor  wretches, — the 
gloomy  interior  of  the  great  Island,  being  peopled  by 
the  wild  hairy  Ainus,  who  were  officially  encouraged  to 

bring  the  heads  of  fugitive  prisoners  to  the  camp! 

Only  the  door  of  the  grave! — the  oblivion  of  the  com 
mon  lime  pit,  awaited  the  condemned! — And  the  hideous 
mockery  of  the  officially  forced  marriage  of  the  men  and 
women  prisoners  stained  even  the  Muscovite  code!  The 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  65 

stranger  wretches  of  the  two  sexes  were  turned  in  to  a 
common  room,  in  equal  numbers,  to  choose  their  mates 
for  life,  those  remaining  unmated  being  told  off  in  a 
hasty  despotic  selection,  after  an  hour  by  the  jeering 
tyrants! 

"Yes! — Yes! — there  are  worse  hells  than  the  Baikal 
mines  or  the  prison  pens  of  the  Amur!"  mused  Orlof,  as 
the  corvette  steamed  north. 

"The  Inferno  of  Saghalien  has  no  parallel  in  human 
horrors! — It  is  the  gate  of  an  eternal  hell!"- 

Sharing  in  Lefranc's  singular  status  of  the  free  run  of 
the  whole  ship,  Fedor  Orlof  spent  his  idle  hours  in  self- 
commune  and  silently  evolved  his  personal  plans  for  the 
future! — The  possession  of  Fersen's  brutally  given  notes 
and  manly  old  Dachkof's  gold  would,  perhaps,  enable 
him  to  open  communication  with  his  long-lost  love!  In 
the  first  days  of  their  voyage,  Fedor  keenly  watched 
Pierre  Lefranc's  attitude  toward  the  officers.  The  con 
vict  noble  finally  decided  to  seal  his  heart-feelings  from 
Lefranc! — For,  though  blood-stained  his  hand,  Orlof 
still  retained  the  haughty  pride  of  a  born  Russian 
noble!  He  was  separated  from  the  merely  subal 
tern  naval  officers  by  his  old  caste!  He  scorned 
to  seek  the  notice  of  his  Commander!  This  stern 
officer  knew  of  Orlof's  rank  and  his  untoward  for 
tunes. — With  cold  deference  to  the  past  social  status  of 
the  unfortunate  noble,  he  had  given  orders  to  spare 
"the  prisoner"  Orlof  any  unnecessary  annoyance,  and 
his  word  was  law!  Fedor  was  mutely  grateful.— 

"It  is  hard  enough,  poor  devil,"  mused  the  Comman 
der,  as  he  regarded  Fedor,  alone  with  his  sorrows  peer 
ing  out  into  the  dim  gray  horison  of  fleeting  fog  banks! 
The  sailor  recked  not  that  under  Fedor's  melancholy, 
placid  features  the  maddest  fever  of  his  unhappy  life 


66  THE     PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

thrilled  every  vein!  To  see  beloved  Olga  again — his 
lost  Olga! — To  hear  her  voice  once  morel  This  was 
Orlof's  hourly  prayer,  and  under  the  blue  Pole  star  he 
neared  the  haven  of  his  dreams! — The  days  sped  quickly 
by!— 

Leaning  over  the  vessel's  rail,  watching  the  crystal, 
foammg  green  waves  break  sharply  on  the  sturdy  oaken 
ribs  of  the  corvette, — Fedor  realized  that  the  Star  of 
Hope's  rays,  twinkling  in  the  Arctic  night,  spoke  only 
to  him  of  the  innocent  woman  ivlio  had  shared  his  unto 
ward  fate!  Though  torn  from  his  arms,  it  was  his  crime 
alone  which  had  dragged  her  down, — her  unselfish  love 
had  brought  her,  in  innocence,  under  the  ban  of  the 
secret  police!  For  Olga  Darine  could  be  no  common 
criminal!  Even  in  Russia  her  punishment  with  death 
would  have  been  an  outrage!  What  had  been  her 
prison  life?  Did  secret  oppressions  follow  her  strange 
pathway?  How  had  she  drifted  to  New  Archangel's  old 
castled  steep?  Was  it  with  a  happy  heart  at  relief  from 
the  course  indignities  of  daily  prison  life  that  she  ling 
ered,  a  caged  song-bird,  in  Baranoff's  stronghold  on  the 
cliff  of  Sitka?  The  unanswering  stars  mocked  his 
grief! 

"I  shall  soon  know  the  very  wrst! — Merciful  God! — 
Grant  that  1  may  not  meet  her  ruined,  degraded,  her  fair 
flower  of  womanhood  trampled  in  the  mire  of  sin!"- 
Fedor  Orlof  counted  the  passing  hours  till  it  seemed 
that  in  his  tense  mental  exaltation  he  could  bring  back 
the  one  beloved  face  of  all  womanhood!  They  had 
torn  away  all  his  belongings  in  the  police  search!  Her 
picture  glowed  in  h  is  fa  itJiful  heart  alone! — 

With  all  a  gentleman's  scorn,  he  marked  the  degrada 
tion  of  Pierre  Lefranc's  personal  character!  The  mer 
curial  Frenchman,  the  grandson  of  a  military  refugee, 


*THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  67 

was  fain  to  flatter  and  fawn  upon  the  officers  of  rank.— 
It  was  the  convict's  usual  downward  path! — Even  the 
material  comforts  of  the  table  seemed  to  be  an  object  of 
Lefranc's  daily  strategy! — Orlof  stood  haughtily  aloof 
from  this  abasing  attitude  of  Lefranc,  who  meanly 
manoeuvred  for  such  little  concessions! — "I  fancy  his 
grandmother  was  merely  some  camp  follower  I"  bitterly 
thought  Fedor,  who  ate  in  silence  of  his  sailor  ration, 
the  Czar's  black  bread,  unsweetened  tea  and  cabbage 
soup  alone!  It  is  the  soldier  and  sailor's  dole.  "I 
have  earned  it  in  Siberia]  I  will  earn  it  bitterly  in 
Aliaskal  What  will  they  do  with  me?"  But  the  stars 
answered  him  not! 

The  "  Seevoutch  "  dashed  northward,  her  guns  lashed 
and  ports  closed,  to  where  the  lazy  schools  of  huge 
right  whales  tumbled  around  in  the  swift  currents, 
sweeping  past  shovel-shaped  Cape  Lopatka. — To  the 
northwest  a  huge  extinct  volcano  towered  sixteen  thou 
sand  feet  in  air,  hanging  in  a  distant  menace  over  the 
wild,  lonely  point! — It  was  the  very  acme  of  desola 
tion! — A  forgotten  land!— 

"We  are  going  to  run  into  Petropauloski  for  Prince 
Serge  Zubow,"  said  the  gossip  Frenchman,  as  the  two 
friends  crouched  one  day  under  the  lee  of  the  compan 
ion  way  on  the  gun  deck. 

"  Who  is  this  Zubow?  "  asked  Orlof,  wearily. 

"  He  is  a  rich  Eastern  Siberian  noble,"  said  Lefranc, 
— "  half  savage, — half  courtier, — who  has  long  had 
some  great  speculations  in  fur  trading  along  the  frozen 
northern  coasts!  He  and  his  Petersburg  agent,  Anton 
Phillippi,  are  now  making  an  annual  round  of  inspec 
tion.  It  is  easy  for  him  to  work  his  will  unrestrained 
here.  He  is  enormously  rich!  A  few  thousand  golden 
roubles  lost  at  play  to  an  official, — a  few  dozen  baskets 


68  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

of  champagne  and  a  case  of  Havanas  to  a  commander, 
—will  always  carry  him  smoothly  along!  He  bribes, 
bullies,  buys  and  cajoles!  He  boasts  a  half  dozen  fol 
lowers  from  Tomsk,  and  some  fierce  attendant  rene 
gades!  A  Circassian  murderer  and  a  Turkestan  fanatic 
were  his  only  friendly  associates  when  he  came  over  to 
Kodiak  two  years  ago!  " — 

"  You  km>iv  him,  ///<•///  "  said  Orlof,  with  a  vague  dis 
trust. — Something  in  the  description  chilled  the  proud 
convict.  It  was  a  premonition.  "May  God  grant  that 
I  do  not  fall  under  his  domination!  " — thought  Fedor. 
"Has  he  any  official  position?'" — It  was  an  anxious 
moment! 

"None,  beyond  the  usual  half  dozen  sinecure  titles 
which  all  highly  placed  Russians  seem  to  affect! "  lightly 
said  Lefranc,  in  reply.  "  I  have  had  no  direct  dealings 
with  him,  but  when  McMann  was  sick  in  hospital, — the\ 
had  some  illicit  fur  and  rum  transactions.  I  acted,  how 
ever,  as  their  confidential  interpreter! — He  is  a  wild 
man!  " 

"Can  I  really  trust  my  fate  to  Lefranc?"  mused 
Orlof,  as  the  gunboat  ran  into  the  splendid  bay  of 
Avatcha.  "  His  term  of  imprisonment  has  not  fang  to 
run'. — He  is  under  no  doom  or  future  disability!  If  he 
ever  had  character,  he  has  sunk  now  to  be  a  mere  lick 
spittle  for  those  over  him! — He  never  had  a  real  social 
position  to  lose!  Why  is  he  not  well  enough  off,  hover 
ing  around  any  of  these  corrupt  officials?  And  yet,  this 
man  may  be  the  means  of  aiding  my  escape!  He  has  a 
great  latitude  of  movement.  He  will  be  practically 
unwatched.  If  he  goes  to  Sitka  he  will  be  allowed  the 
free  run  of  the  town,  and  /,"  bitterly  thought  Orlof, 
"  must  perhaps  linger  penned  in  a  convict  barrack, 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  69 

within  the  very  sound  of  Olga's  voice!  I  must  use  this 
man's  doubtful  friendship! "- 

In  self-condemnation  Orlof  ground  his  teeth  in  impo 
tent  rage,  as  he  noticed  the  slight  but  unmistakable  air 
of  superiority  daily  assumed  by  Lefranc! — It  was  the 
coarse  reminder  that  the  naval  criminal  was  not  at  least 
a  £/00//-stairied  felon! — 

It  was  easy  for  the  familiar  Lefranc  to  pick  up  the 
gossip  of  the  ship.  With  ready  compliance  he  toiled  at 
his  chart  work  and  the  computations  in  the  navigator's 
rooms,  while  the  absent  ward-room  officers  dallied  over 
cards,  cigarettes  and  steaming  vodki  punch  in  utter 
laziness! — He  knew  how  to  ingratiate — to  wheedle! 

"We  will  only  stay  one  day  here  at  this  port!  Ah! 
There  come  the  port  officers!  "  cried  Pierre,  as  the  two 
convicts  gazed  out  upon  the  beautiful  silent  valley. 
— Hemmed  in  with  mountains,  the  one  considerable 
port  of  Khamschatka  boasted  as  ornament  a  great  Greek 
church,  with  fantastically  colored  roofs  of  red  and  green. 
Around  this,  the  houses  of  the  officers  were  bowered  in 
straggling  gardens.— 

The  government  workshops  and  arsenals  were  crowded 
with  loungers,  and  the  shining  bayonets  of  the  sentries 
glittered  proudly  on  the  heavy  shore  batteries. — The 
sparkling  waters  were  alive  with  cod,  swarming  golden 
king  salmon  and  great  shoals  of  beautiful  sea  trout  leap 
ing  in  wanton  frolic  into  the  pale  sunlight. — The  great 
blue  and  white  cross  ensign  of  the  Romanoffs  swung 
lazily  in  pride  from  the  forts. — 

As  the  heavy  double-banked  port  barge  swept  along 
side,  Orlof  thought  of  the  battle  day  when  six  great 
French  and  English  warships  rained  a  storm  of  shot 
upon  the  heroic  defenders  of  this  poor  little  Arctic  vil 
lage! — When  the  landing  parties  rushed  back  pellmell 


70  'I  UK    1'R1NX1.>S    Of    ALASKA. 

to  their  boats,  six  score  red-coated  English  invaders  lay 
dead  upon  the  chilly  moss  of  the   roadways!      A  great 
day  for  the  brave  Russians!     The  glory  of  victory  hov 
ered  in  the  Arctic  still! — 

''Would  to  God  that  /  had  died  here,  musket  in 
hand,  even  a  humble  soldier,  in  the  ranks  of  the  Czar! 
For  now,  I  wear  only  the  convict  patch, — the  badge  oj 
shame  I  " 

There  were  bitter  tears  in  Fedor's  eyes  as  he  hastened 
away,  for  the  fur-coated  visiting  gentry  were  now  throng 
ing  the  deck,  as  they  swarmed  up  from  the  great  barge. 
All  were  eager  for  that  debauch  which  was  destined  to 
enliven  the  night  hours  until  the  corvette  sailed. — 

' '  Here,  you  convict  fellow  I  Take  these  down  to  my  state 
room!"  suddenly  cried  a  sturdy  man  of  thirty, whose  price 
less  black  sable  collar  and  cuffs  indicated  opulence. — He 
tossed  some  hand  bundles  roughly  toward  Orlof,  who 
stood  stunned  and  motionless. — The  stranger's  great 
muscular  frame,  heavy  under  face,  thin  moustache, 
piercing  black  eyes  and  bold  harsh  voice  were  the  marks 
of  an  inland  noble  of  Tartar  blood.  Orlof  hesitated  and 
was  motionless. — 

"Why  don't  you  jump,  hound"  yelled  the  infuriated 
noble,  as  Fedor's  face  grew  pale  with  silent  rage. — 

"I  am  the  Czar's  prisoner,  not  your  scrrant!  "  quietly 
said  Orlof, — his  eyes  gleaming  as  coldly  as  the  Pole 
star's  wintry  glinting  rays. — It  was  a  challenge  to  fate!  — 

"I'll  have  you  knoutcd,  you  scum!"  raged  the  infuri 
ated  Zubow,  as  he  sprang  forward,  his  fist  clenched,  to 
where  Orlof,  with  folded  arms,  measured  the  distance  to 
to  the  ship's  side! — A  single  blow  I — 

He  would  snatch  the  marine's  musket,  drive  the  bay 
onet  through  the  brute's  heart,  and  then,  then,  the  green 
icy  water  was  twenty  fathom  deep!  If  the  guard  fired 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  71 

3.  volley,  sooner  theiij  Death's  welcome  release!  For  no 
man  had  ever  struck  an  Orlof  and  lived  to  boast! — 

Lefranc,  with  a  skillful  movement  glided,  between 
the  two  young  men.  The  shore  officers,  the  portly 
priest,  and  one  or  two  rich  peasant  merchants  stood 
aghast  at  the  sight! 

The  silence  was  broken  by  Commander  Linieff's  stern 
voice,  crying:  "Hold off!  Zubowl  We  are  on  the  high 
seas!  That  man  is  under  my  orders  alone  I  He  has  as 
much  right  on  the  ship  as  you  have! — And  I  will  protect 
him!" 

"  Her  el"  said  Lineiff  to  a  knot  of  gaping  sailors  on 
the  taffrail,  "get  all  his  baggage  off  the  deck!" 

" May  I  show  you  now  your  cabin?"  said  the  Com 
mander  to  Prince  Zubow,  who  bowed  and  followed  him 
without  a  word.  At  the  door  of  the  Commander's  great 
saloon,  the  Tartar  bully  turned, — and  cast  back  a  glance 
of  deadly  hatred  at  stately  Orlof,  leaning  against  a  gun. 
"I  will  mark  that  baby  face  of  yours  yet,  convict  dog!" 
he  growled,  "I've  seen  that  countenance  before  at 
Petersburg, — at  the  Clubs, — I'm  sure.  Wait!  Wait!" 

he  muttered. And  Fedor  was  under  the  Doom  of 

Hate!— 

"This  is  most  unfortunate!"  murmured  Lefranc,  when 
the  distant  official  party  were  gathered  around  their 
wine  in  the  cabins. — The  main  decks  were  deserted. 
Orlof  s  heart  was  thrilling  yet  with  thankful  gratitude  to 
the  bluff  manly  sailor. 

"  See  here,  Pierre,"  he  said,  turning  away,  "You  may 
forget  you  were  born  a  gentleman! — I  can  notT 

Pierre  Lefranc  did  forget! 

Two  days  later,  the  fleet  corvette  was  skimming  along 
the  white-cliffed  peninsula,  under  the  shadow  of  the 
great  volcano  peaks,  where  fretful  flash  and  straggling 


72  THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA. 

smoke  told  of  the  struggling  inner  fires  of  mother  earth. 
—There  were  fiercer  flames  burning  in  Fedor  Orlof's 
heart!  The  light  of  an  abject  despair  consumed  him! 
He  shunned  the  face  of  man,  and  lingered  alone  in  the 
dingy  boatswain's  stowage  closet  assigned  to  him. 
With  malicious  wit,  the  resentful  Prince  Zubow  sought 
out  Lefranc  in  the  evening  shadows.  He  had  a  tool 
ready  for  his  vengeance. 

"Who  is  this  mysterious  fine  gentleman?"  demanded 
the  imperious  Zubow. 

With  a  Frenchman's  adroitness,  Pierre  hesitated. 
— He  would  get  Zubow  more  or  less  in  his  power! 

"What  do  you  wish  to  know,  Prince?" — he  hesitated. 

"Look  here,  my  friend!  I  have  a  thousand  rouble 
golden  rouleau  for  you,  if  you  quicken  your  memory! — 
All  you  scoundrels  are  chums!  You  know  all  each 
other's  lies — and  also  habitually  spy  on  your  com 
rades!" 

"Let  me  see  the  gold!"  whispered  Lefranc,  as  the 
shades  of  night  hid  the  blushes  on  his  Judas  cheek.  In 
a  few  moments,  the  Prince  thrust  the  gold  in  the  con 
vict's  hands!  In  half  an  hour  his  eyes  glistening  with 
victorious  passion,  Zubow  strode  back  to  the  cabin. 

"Ah!     I  have  him!     I  know  my  course-!" — 

— "An  Orhfl  I  will  see  that  ivory  back  of  his,  bleed 
under  the  spiked  lash!  Maxutoff  will  give  him  up  to 
me!  The  brute!  I  will  take  the  defiance  out  of  his 
saucy  eyes!  He  shall  feel  Zubow's  heel  grinding  that 
handsome  face!"  And  God  heard  this  murderous  oath! 
Mysterious  His  ways! 

Basely  as  Lefranc  lowered  himself  for  the  Tartar's 
gold,  he  had  forgotten  to  connect  the  unhappy  Orlof 
with  the  witching  star,  now  obscured  by  Arctic  dark 
ness,  the  world-famous  Petersburg  prima  donna!  For 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  73 

Zubow  had  only  questioned  him  on  every  detail  of  Orlof's 
tragic  deed! 

"I  will  keep  that  deed  ever  f res /i  in  his  mind!"  raved 
Zubow,  ''he  shall  hear  his  uncle's  name  at  every  lash!  " 

The  doom  of  the  helpless!     The  tryant's  menace! 

When  the  gray  dawn  lit  up  the  decks,  where  the  two 
men, — once  gentlemen  of  an  imperial  mess, — shared  the 
tin  pannikins  of  the  bearded  sailor  peasants,  Pierre 
Lefranc's  unstable  eyes  dropped  before  Orlof's  fearless 
gaze.  The  hours  glided  by  with  no  reference  to  the 
imperious  man,  now  a  lurking  tiger  waiting  a  revenge! 
—The  rattling  anchor  dropped  at  last  in  the  bay  of 
Behring  Island.  The  shores  of  the  lonely  mountain 
group  were  covered  with  a  vast  wallowing  herd  of  sea 
bears,  whose  priceless  fur  was  destined  to  enrich  future 
daring  schemers.  In  an  hour,  Prince  Zubow  landed  with 
the  Commander. — Orlof,  indifferent  to  aught  but  Olga 
Darine,  deigned  not  to  ask  permission  to  land,  but 
Lefranc  followed  slyly  in  the  train  of  Zubow!  It  had 
been  even  so  at  Copper  Island,  the  neighboring  smaller 
isle  of  the  Commander  group! — Fedor  was  ignorant  of 
the  growing  hunger  of  Lefranc  for  more  of  Zubow's 
gold, — and  of  the  quick-witted  Tartar's  intention  to 
make  the  talented  convict  useful  in  vast  future  plans  not 
yet  thoroughly  formulated! — It  was  indeed  a  slavish 
means  of  nearing  his  freedom!  But  Pierre  thought 
li  Me  Mann  may  fail  me!  This  wild,  ignorant  Croesus 
will  need  my  brains!" 

And  so  Lefranc  decided,  as  he  fingered  the  jingling 
golden  imperials: — 

"Orlof  need  not  know  all!  He  is  an  impracticable 
fool!" 

It  was  easy  for  the  Judas  to  find  law  and  logic  in  his 
mean  betrayal  of  the  hapless  lover!  Alone,  on  the  deck. 


74  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

Fedor  Orlof  could  see  on  the  mountain,  Behring's  Cross! 
He  thought  of  the  untoward  fate  of  the  great  navigator. 
The  fearless  confidant  of  an  Empress'  world-compelling 
schemes! — After  great  honor  and  destruction  signalized 
his  name,  Vitus  Behring's  stricken  ship's  company  saw 
him  perish  here  miserably  on  December  8,  1741.  Held 
in  the  grasp  of  ice  and  storm, — ravaged  by  the  awful 
misery  of  the  scurvy, — his  dying  eyes  closed  within  the 
very  sight  of  his  stranded  bark  !  The  heroic  Dane,  hid 
ing  in  a  hollow,  dug  to  claim  the  friendly  warmth  of  the 
earth,  was  half  covered  with  the  earth  sliding  down  on 
him,  before  he  closed  his  weary  eyes! 

"The  meed  of  glorious  deeds,"  bitterly  mused  Orlof, 
— "A  dog's  death!  An  incredible  hardship,  crossing 
Siberia  in  1728, — building  with  rude  help  the  first  two 
ships  in  the  North  Pacific  at  Petropauloski, — Behring 
and  Tchirikof,  (self-devoted),  carried  out  the  imperial 
mandates  of  the  savage  genius  of  Peter  the  Great!  For 
it  was  Peter's  own  hand,  relaxing  in  death,  which  traced 
the  plan  for  his  lion-hearted  women  successors  to  push 
on  in  the  conquest  of  Asia,  as  well  as  to  sweep  to  the 
Dardanelles! 

The  rude  Alexander  of  the  North  had  a  prophetic 
brain!  Keener  in  intellect  than  the  godlike  young 
Greek  soldier,  he  aspired  to  grasp  Asia,  and  even  to 
rule  the  unprotected  shores  of  North  America.  Un 
known  seas  stopped  not  his  ambitions!  Faith,  imperial 
pride,  a  tyrant's  greed  of  conquest  and  a  dream  of  the 
mightiest  future  realm  on  earth,  to  be  ruled  by  his  line, 
under  the  Russian  flag, — led  Peter  to  study  the  story  of 
the  hardy  Cossack,  Deschnew. — The  world  had  forgot 
ten  the  daring  savage,  Deschnew,  who, — rudely  fur 
nished  forth, — burst,  first,  into  the  Arctic  Ocean,  through 
its  lonely  Pacific  sea  gates!  It  was  in  1648,  that  the 


THE    PRINCESS    OP    ALASKA.  75 

unknown  Cossack  sought,  though  ignorant  of  naviga 
tion,  for  the  fabled  straits  of  Anian!  He  looked  for  the 
land  of  the  great  northern  mystery,  with  "its  Anian  Strait 
and  silver  mountains,  and  divers  other  fabulous  tales!  " 
—The  lonely  northern  Colossus,  the  gigantic-minded 
Peter,  left  secret  orders  for  the  exploration  which  gave 
Vitus  Behring's  name  later  to  the  Cossack's  discovery. 
Thirteen  years  of  sailing  in  unknown  seas,  gave  Behring 
only  a  lonely  grave,  and  to-day  the  Straits  of  Deschnew 
bear  the  intrepid  Dane's  name!  Neither  found  the 
fabled  treasures!  The  heirship  of  Behring  has  swept 
Deschnew's  name  into  the  oblivion  of  forgetfulness. 
And  strangers  hands  reaped  the  hidden  golden  har 
vest!" 

As  Fedor  Orlof  mused,  around  the  headland,  a  heavy- 
sparred  American  whaler  suddenly  appeared, — driving 
along  under  full  sail.  She  hoisted  her  colors  in  courtly 
salute  to  the  corvette,  and  was  soon  lost  in  the  flying 
scud! — 

Orlof  went  to  his  den  and  sunk  his  head  in  his  hands! 
It  was  the  mockery  of  fate! 

When  Lefranc  returned,  he  was  greatly  agitated  at 
the  news  of  the  passing  whaler! 

"It  may  even  have  been  the  Reindeer\"  he  cried, 
"  McMann  has  often  run  in  here  for  a  removal  of  hid 
den  otter  furs,  seal  skins  and  private -barter,  secreted  to 
keep  off  the  local  officers! — A  man  should  be  allowed  to 
steal  who  has  to  serve  the  Emperor  here  I  But,  Orlof," 
he  continued,  "I  find  this  Prince  Zubow  has  a  vast 
secret  influence  I  Phillippi  tells  me  we  are  to  run  up  to 
Plover  Bay  and  Behring  Straits  to  take  on  the  furs, 
ivory  and  whalebone  belonging  to  this  great  schemer! 
He  must  have  a  great  hold  on  Maxutoff!— There  are 
some  Yankee  ships  now  along  the  Ochotsk  Sea  and  on 


76  HIE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

the  north  coast  of  Khamschatka!  These  bold  fools 
think  to  lay  a  telegraph  around  the  coast  to  connect 
with  Europe!  It  is  a  gigantic  madness,  but  magnificent] 
We  now  may  have  a  chance  later  to  sneak  on  board  of 
one  of  them  at  Plover  Bay  or  the  straits, — but  I  fear  the 
Americans  might  be  forced  to  give  us  up  again! — They 
need  to  keep  the  good  will  of  the  Starosts  of  the  villages 
and  all  our  port  governors.  Only  a  bold  adventurer 
like  McMann  can  save  us!  He  is  lianJ  and  gfoi'f  with 
Prince  Zubow!  " 

Orlof's  heart  sank.— 

"  Then  €^W-/MV  to  my  liberty,— *• 'Pierre!  "  said  Orlof.— 
"The  grave  alone  is  open  to  me!  This  deadly  man  has 
marked  me  crcn  now  for  his  vengeance!" — 

"Oh,  he  is  but  a  rough  Tartar  brute!  He  will  forget 
his  rage  when  he  lands  among  the  complaisant  beauties 
of  Baranoff  castle! — No  wilder,  gayer  bacchantes  ever 
raised  the  chant  of  Love's  madness  than  these  dark- 
eyed  women, — social  exiles, — who  pine  in  idle  compan 
ionship  around  gentle  Princess  Beatrice  Maxutoff! 
Zubow  will  be  the  Prince  Charming  of  every  feast  and 
gay  rout  in  the  huge  ball  room  on  the  rocky  hill!  He 
may  not  forgive,  but  he  will  forget!"  replied  Lefranc. 
"  It  is  the  Tartar  roughness!  That's  all!  " 

"/  hope  so,  gloomily  said  Orlof,  as  he  walked  away 
with  a  strange  foreshadowing  of  future  disaster. — As  the 
launch  swept  up,  and  the  noisy  party  clattered  on  deck, 
Orlof  saw  Zubow's  triumphant  leer,  when  the  tipsy 
Prince  fixed  a  malignant  glance  on  him.— 

"He  may  not,  however,  be  able  to  harm  me!  The 
Czar's  prisoner  will  be  tied  to  his  daily  toil!  " 

A  lightning  dart  seemed  suddenly  to  rend  his  heart  as 
he  stood  transfixed.— 

"  My  God!      Olga!     There,  alone,  with  no  one  to  pro- 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  77 

tect  her!    Docs  he  know?     Can  he  know, — her  history?" 

As  he  walked  down  the  gun  deck,  he  noted  the  Prince 
whispering  to  his  sleek  confidant,  Anton  Phillippi,  the 
Fur  King! — They  were  grinning  and  laughing.  A  too 
faithful  memory  lifted  the  veil  of  Fedor's  lonely  convict 
years!  Raised  above  all  mercantile  acquaintance  at 
home,  by  his  rank,  Fedor  Orlof  had  only  distantly 
heard,  in  his  Petersburg  days,  of  the  wild  extravagance 
of  the  sleek  speculator  whose  face  he  had  marked  in 
these  last  days.  He  slowly  recognized  Phillippi,  bend 
ing  over  the  cabin  table  strewn  with  gold,  in  a  gambler's 
eagerness,  as  he  ventured  his  craft  against  Zubow's 
dashing  recklessness!  The  cabin's  open  door  showed 
him  the  envious  naval  officers-watching  this  high  play! — 

"  I  have  surely  seen  his  face  before!  Ah!  God!  // 
was  at  the  Opera  I  If  he,  this  merchant  prince,  should 
remember  O/ga!"  And  Orlof  prayed  to  God  that  some 
secret  order  of  the  vengeful  Czarevitch  might  keep  Olga 
Darine  hidden  from  these  two  powerful  intriguants. 

"  God  keep  my  helpless  beloved!"  he  groaned  in  his 
anguish. 

"Had  Phillippi  recognized  him?  Perhaps!"  and  the 
convict,  with  a  shudder,  remembered  that  the  mad 
Count  Fedor  Orlof's  name  was  on  every  one's  tongue  in 
Petersburg  at  that  former  time.  This  fur  stealing  con 
spirator  might  even  know  the  great  Jewish  money  lend 
ers  who  helped  to  betray  him  at  the  last,  to  the  Grand 
Duke ! 

For  five  days,  the  agitated  prisoner  hid  himself  as  far 
as  it  was  possible,  while  the  '  Seevoutch '  battled  to  the 
north,  and  the  gray  dawn  of  the  sixth  day  showed  him 
the  vessel,  at  anchor,  in  the  beautiful  harbor  of  arctic 
Plover  Bay,  hemmed  in  with  its  high  protecting  moun 
tains.  Before  them — on  the  shore,  the  Tchuktche  tents 


78  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

of  whalebone  ribs,  covered  with  sewn  skins,  were  sur 
rounded  by  groups  of  the  savage  natives,  squalid,  in 
their  fur  robes,  and  surrounded  by  knots  of  awkward, 
hulking  reindeer!  A  stay  of  a  few  hours  to  receive  furs 
and  ivory,  caused  Commander  Linieff  to  have  a  sudden 
fancy  for  a  sketch  of  the  outre"  scene! — At  his  personal 
order,  Fedor  Orlof,  provided  from  the  chart  room  with 
materials,  toiled  until  the  paddle  wheels  began  to  revolve 
after  the  anchor  had  been  catted.  Intent  upon  his  work, 
Orlof,  who  had  the  eye  of  an  artist,  was  suddenly  made 
the  centre  of  an  admiring  circle.  Commander  Linieff  was 
astonished  at  the  convict's  ready  skill  and,  turning  his 
back,  with  warm  approval  disappeared  in  his  cabin.— 

While  Orlof  had  touched  up  the  last  lights  and  shades, 
a  rude  hand  suddenly  snatched  away  his  sketch  block. — 
Several  officers  colored  with  shame,  as,  with  a  malignant 
sneer,  Prince  Zubow  handed  it  around. 

"This  fellow  draws  well  enough!  Perhaps,  he  was  a 
forger  as  well  as  murderer!  " 

Orlof's  face  became  purple  with  a  sudden  rush  of 
blood!  When  the  youngest  officer  timidly  handed  back 
the  drawing, — as  the  ship  was  speeding  out  of  the  har 
bor, — as  Zubow  was  glaring  in  expectancy  at  the  tor 
tured  noble, — with  a  steady  stride,  Fedor  approached 
the  vessel's  side  and  tossed  the  drawing  into  the  foamy 
wake  of  the  wheel!  He  then  turned  back,  in  silence, 
with  a  stony  face!  The  Tartar  rushed  upon  him. — 

"Dog,  you  have  dared  I"  cried  Zubow,  blind  with 
passion.  "Stop  there,  Prince!"  harshly  cried  the  dis 
gusted  Officer  of  the  Deck,  "If  I  report  this  scene  to 
Commander  Linieff,  /'/  will  put  you  and  I  up  at  ten  paces  I 
Your  conduct  is  unworthy  of  a  man  I  " 

The  Tartar  ruffian  strode  away  in  silence,  as  the 
officer  approached  Fedor  Orlof,  and  said:  "  Can  you  not 


tHE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  ?C) 

reproduce  this  from   memory?      Do  your  best,   my  poor 
man!     We  all  wish  it ! ' ' 

A  suspicious  moisture  gleamed  in  Orlof's  eye,  as,  with 
a  fresh  sketch  block,  the  scene  soon  grew  into  pictured 
life  once  more,  under  his  flying  fingers. — 

From  that  moment  until  the  "  Seevoutch  "  reached 
Sitka  Harbor,  Prince  Zubow  never  faced  the  now  des 
perate  man. — The  corvette  next  day  steamed  into  the 
narrow  arctic  inlet  with  its  three  midway  islands  in  the 
thirty-seven  miles  of  the  strait  through  which,  for  the 
first  time,  Orlof  gazed  into  the  mystic  waters,  marked 
here  and  there  with  a  floating  iceberg,  stretching  in 
silence  to  the  unreached  North  Pole!  It  was  the  un- 
earthy  boundary  of  those  unknown  seas  whose  dark 
mysteries  have  tempted  human  sacrifice  since  the  days 
when  Europe  was  driven  mad  by  the  noble  Venetian 
Marco  Polo,  whose  story  of  Xipangu  and  Kublai  Khan's 
magnificence  were  seemingly  incredible! — 

But  Marco  Polo's  treasures  of  Cathay  were  visible  on 
his  return,  and  feasted  the  eyes  of  the  brave  Venetians, 
in  the  storied  year  1295! — To  reach  the  fabulous  wealth 
of  Cathay  and  Xipangu,  the  world's  adventurers  soon 
dared  all  !  While  Mendez  Pinto's  tales  led  William 
Adams  to  be  the  English  Columbus  of  Japan,  stout  Sir 
Hugh  Willoughby,  Barentz,  and  other  heroes  had  died 
miserably  in  these  unknown  icy  seas.  A  fool's  quest! 
Gold!  Always  Gold  I 

Looking  at  East  Cape's  rocky  hill,  with  its  jutting 
spires  of  crags  in  the  chill  water  marking  Asia's  ex 
tremity, — Fedor  Orlof  could  also  turn  his  eyes  to  Cape 
Prince  of  Wales,  which  marked  the  first  land  of  America, 
his  new  prison  home,, — Aliaska! — For  this  ragged  peak 
jutting  out  was  joined  by  a  stretch  of  low  land  to  the 


80  THK    rulN'CKSS    OF    ALASKA. 

forbidding  rude  hills  of  Russian  America. — There  he 
would  be  the  Czar's  forgotten  slave  ! — And  —  Olga — 

Three  small  islands,  anchored  in  the  current  sweeping 
from  the  mystic  Arctic  Ocean,  seemed  to  be  stepping 
stones  for  great  Peter's  leap  toward  America  !  And  the 
stout  hearted  Empress  widow  had  sent  his  flag  over  on 
its  iron  rule  ! 

"Wonderful  man!"  mused  Orlof,  as  the  steamer's 
prow  was  turned  toward  Kodiak.  "  The  treasures  he 
sought  here  have  been  garnered  only  by  the  wily  Amer 
icans  1  For  through  this  n-.rrow  gateway  Captain 
Boys,  in  the  Yankee  whaler  "Superior,"  in  1848,  first 
led  the  way  to  the  moving  treasures  of  the  ungleaned 
bowhead  whale  schools  !  Three  hundred  vessels  follow 
ing  within  two  years,  sailed  out  of  Behring  Strait  with 
eighteen  millions  of  dollars  in  cargoes  of  oil  and  bone  ! 
This  was  the  real  treasure!  "Where  is  the  fool's  gold?" 
Under  the  fitful  gleam  of  the  flashing  Northern  Lights, 
moody  Orlof  paced  the  deck,  in  marvel  at  the  old  world's 
mad  thirst  for  treasure,  as  the  ship  went  speeding  on  to 
Kodiak!  He  little  recked  that  the  "Seevoutch"  was 
dashing  on  toward  an  inlet  where  the  very  cliffs  were 
crumbling  quartz,  richly  seamed  with  the  long  sought  gold! 
The  dark  secret  was  yet  hidden  ! — 

While  through  the  gray  fog  of  the  storm  swept  Behring 
Sea,  the  Prybiloffs  loomed  up,  with  their  beaches  packed 
with  the  bellowing  fur  seals,  Orlof  wondered  at  the  savage 
life  of  the  floating  ice  floes.  The  spoils  of  lumbering  white 
bears,  —  human  looking  seals,  their  mermaid-like  heads 
darting  above  the  water, — weird  giant  sea  cows,  and  uncouth 
walrus,  white  tusked  and  bearded, — as  well  as  wolf,  brown 
bear,  black,  blue  and  silver  fox,  had  been  added  to  the 
plunder  of  the  vessel's  landings!  Swinging  at  anchor  at 
last  in  Kodiak  harbor,  Orlof  listened  to  Pierre  Lefranc's 
uneasy  regrets.  The  hand  of  a  traitor's  destiny  had  smit- 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  8l 

ten  him, — and  confidence  was  a  thing  of  the  past!  Orlof 
was  finally  suspicious! 

"I  am  not  to  be  permitted  to  land,  Fedor!"  the  Gaul  fal 
tered,  "  Prince  Maxutoff  has  sent  orders  for  me  to  be 
brought  down  to  Sitka! — Some  future  transfer  of  the  great 
American  Kingdom  of  the  Czar  must  be  in  view!  I  may 
never  meet  McMann  again!  He  may  lose  his  treasure 
island!  I  may  die  under  the  rule  of  the  jailer!  Who 
knows  if  my  order  of  release  will  ever  come! 

The  bustle  of  conference,  the  sound  of  revelry,  floated 
off  from  the  shores  of  St.  Paul!  Kodiak's  frowning  hills 
now  hung  over  them.  It  was  the  last  stop!  Several  glit 
tering  officials  now  joined  the  noisy  revellers  in  the  ward 
room,  as  passengers,  when  the  "  Seevoutch "  turned  her 
prow  to  Sitka!  The  day  of  facing  his  fate  rapidly  neared 
Fedor  Orlof, — now  a  prey  to  every  doubt  and  fear! 

Pierre  Lefranc  shunned  him  now  at  night!  The  open- 
hearted  noble,  living  only  on  his  sorrows,  dreamed  not  that 
the  debased  Frenchman  was  nightly  conspiring  with  Prince 
Zubow!  //  was  indeed  so!  The  impetuous  Tartar  million 
aire's  brain  was  strong  and  rugged.  His  mental  self-will 
was  as  wildly  unrestrained  as  the  breezes  sweeping  down 
the  Obi  and  Yenisei  over  his  native  Steppes! — And  his 
ready  gold  enslaved  Lefranc. 

Brooking  no  restraint,  aware  of  the  immense  diffusion  of 
the  Czar's  power,  Serge  Zubow  had  easily  bought  his  way 
everywhere  in  victory!  His  molten  gold,  bearing  the  Czar's 
stamp,  corrupted  the  very  haughtiest  officials  of  the 
Crown! 

"  Let  these  official  fools  laugh,  sun  themselves  in  woman's 
flickering  smile,  battle  over  the  green  board,  or  play  the 
water  fly  of  gaudy  court  shows, — /  am  marching  straight 
onward  to  an  equal  rank  with  the  Demidoffs  and  Galitzins! 
For  my  gold!"  he  laughed, "  opens  woman's  heart,  blinds 


82  TIIE    PRINCESS    OK 

justice  and  bends  these  improvident  officials  as  my  pliant 
tools!  /  shall  conquer."'1 

Under  pretense  of  using  Lefranc  to  design  a  vessel  for 
their  future  Ochotsk  trade,  Anton  Phillippi  and  Prince 
Serge  Zubow  spent  the  evenings  of  the  five  days'  run  from 
Kodiak  to  Sitka,  closeted  with  the  pliant  Frenchman! 
There  was  a  freemasonry  of  easy  deviltry  which  led  the 
partners  to  throw  off  the  mask! 

"  Gregory  Maxutoff  is  an  old  friend  of  mine,"  cried 
Zubow,  "if  you  serve  us  in  devotion,  I  will  make  your 
prison  chains  golden!  " 

"  Ma  foi !  Load  them  on,  now,  Prince !  1  can  bear  them!  " 
smiled  Lefranc,  musing  on  the  uselessness  of  Fedor  Orlofs 
companionship  to  him.  For,  as  on  the  morn  they  would 
enter  Sitka  harbor, — Anton  Phillippi,  cool  and  wise,  mused 
upon  the  far  reaching  plans  which  the  two  scoundrels  had 
laid  to  defraud  the  Imperial  Treasury, — as  well  as  to  scram 
ble  for  all  possible  rights  and  concessions  before  foggy  Ali- 
aska  would  be  transferred  to  the  United  States! 

"Any  contracts,  franchises,  deeds  or  entries  made  under 
our  Imperial  law  will  hold  after  tJie  transfer,  Serge!"  said 
Phillippi,  when  Lefranc  sneaked  back  to  his  humble  den 
with  lonely  Fedor  Orlof.  The  ex-guardsman,  proudly 
wrapped  in  the  isolation  of  his  sorrow,  deigned  not  to 
question  Pierre. 

"  Giving  his  scientific  knowledge  in  return  for  broken 
meats,  a  little  wine,  a  handful  of  cigars  and  a  few  roubles! 
French  complaisance  bought  with  a  pastry  cook's  bribe!" — 

And  yet,  Fedor  Orlof  bided  his  time  in  peace, — for  even 
this  parasite  was  his  superior  now! — He  bore  no  ban  for 
life,  and,  on  his  favor,  might  hang  the  slender  line  of  com 
munication  with  poor  Olga,  once  the  object  of  a  Crown 
Prince's  advances!— 

"  Mark  me  !  Phillippi,"  said  Zubow,  slowly,  as  he 
drained  a  huge  glass  of  vodki  and  water,  when  Sitka  harbor 


THE    PRIftc/ESS    OF    ALASKA.  83 

lights  were  seen  twinkling  in  the  far  south,  "  We  must 
separate  these  prisoners!  Lefranc  is  very  adroit,  curse  him! 
If  we  are  going  to  hide  the  stolen  tribute  furs  and  get  them 
to  a  foreign  market,  this  fellow  is  a  good  navigator  and  in 
dispensable  to  us!  As  an  ex-convict,  no  one  would  believe 

his  story!  I  am  afraid  of  Prince  Maxutoff! He  is  pliant 

enough,  but  he  has  foolish  notions  about  ' betraying  the 
Emperor'  and  all  such  nonsense!  It  is  giant  stake  to  play 
for!  Besides,  Beatrice  Maxutoff  is  no  fool!  I  never  could 
hoodwink  the  Princess!  Her  clear,  womanly  eyes  pierce 
my  very  soul!  Devil  take  her?  She's  a  good  woman  and 
diamonds  will  not  shut  her  eyes!  I  can  not  manage  her!" — 

"  Do  not  fret,  Serge,"  answered  the  Fur  King.— This 
Orlof  is  bold  and  spirited.  Tempt  him  to  escape!  An 
extra  bottle  of  vodki,  a  few  Imperials,  and  the  sentinel  will 
drop  him  with  an  ounce  ball  in  his  brain!  This  French 
scoundrel  will  betray  him, — we  can  leave  the  way  ap 
parently  open  for  an  attempted  escape! — I  am  sorry  though 
for  Orlof!  He  is  as  brave  as  an  eagle  of  the  Caucasus! 
— But  his  rank  and  high  birth  make  him  feel  his  shame 
bitterly! — We  only  need  one  of  these  men!  Mark  me!  He 
will  die,  but  never  stoop  or  cringe!  Yes,  Serge,"  concluded 
Anton,  dallying  with  a  fresh  cigarette,  "Kill  him  off,  in 
some  quiet  way!" 

"Stay!"  hoarsely  cried  Zubow,  whose  unslaked  revenge 
was  flooding  his  brain  with  a  fiery  tide,  "  McMann  will  run 
his  whaler  in  here  to  get  my  orders  about  carrying  off  our 
otters  and  ivory  lying  now  at  Anadyr  Gulf!  I  will  not  put 
myself  in  this  Lefranc  s power!  I'll  get  Aleck  McMann  to//// 
Orlof  out  of  the  way!  Now,  first,  to  separate  them!  Gre 
gory  Maxutoff  is  a  lunatic  on  the  subject  of  Aliaskan  gold! 
He  thinks  the  Emperor  will  make  him  Prince  of  Alaska  if 
he  finds  it!  He  insists  that  the  most  promising  fields 
should  be  located  before  any  treaty  of  cession  is  signed. — 
Of  course,  the  Emperor  would  then  only  get  his  tenth  and 


84  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

Maxutoff  hopes  to  hold  the  grants  himself  and  leave  his 
wife  rich,  and  that  pretty  fay,  Irma,  a  splendid  future 
dowry! — The  little  Princess  would  be  a  star  in  Russia!  It 
is  true,  there  is  a  little  gold  always  to  be  traded  for  among 
the  Eskimo! — I  will  tell  Prince  Gregory  that  this  Orlof 
fellow  is  an  expert  in  all  the  latest  gold  mining  science,  and 
has  explored  the  Siberian  gold  fields! — //  is  true! — Linieff 
told  me  that  Orlofs  report  on  the  rhines  was  a  blessing  to 
Count  Fersen. — Maxutoff  will  then  send  the  dandy  at  once 
away  on  some  fool's  errand,  if  I  ask! — I  will  then  reach 
him, — reach  him,  if  he  were  on  ice  floe  in  the  Arctic!  No 
man  ever  braved  Serge  Zubow,  and  lived!" 

"  Don't  let  that  Tartar  fury  of  yours  ^//Wyou,  Serge! — 
Do  you  forget  that  /  have  made  you  the  Czar's  partner? 

Siberia's  furs, the  Behring  seals  and  otters,  ivory  and 

priceless  fox  skins the  million  roubles  worth  is  almost 

ours!  Curb  your  fury!  We  wish  to  ship  our  ' private  divi 
dends'  to  China,  Japan,  or  even  America!  As  for  your 
revenge, — don't  be  a  fool! — It  may  cost  us  too  dear!" — 

"  I  can  wait,"  growled  Zubow,  as  the  "Seevoutch  "  ran 
into  Sitka  Sound  and  anchored  for  the  night,  before  thread 
ing  the  dangerous  labyrinth  of  sunken  rocks  and  islands 
masking  New  Archangel.  The  tall  form  of  Orlof,  an 
uneasy  watcher  of  the  night,  met  Zubow's  gaze,  as  the  Fur 
King  left  him,  laughingly  whispering,  "  Now,  don't  be  a 
fool!  We  want  no  midnight  duel  to  the  death!  Think  of  that 
lovely  prima  donna  in  disguise!"  Zubow  started!  The 
lurking  devil  in  him,  woke,  as,  showing  his  grinning,  white 
teeth,  he  strode  to  his  cabin  and  smilingly  drained  a 
glass  of  cognac,  "To  the  Prima  Donna!" 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  85 


CHAPTER  IV. 

IN  THE  SITKA  CHURCH — THE  LITTLE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA 

FINDS   A   LOST   LOVER — IN  THE    GOVERNOR'S  WORKING 

ROOM — THE  ESKIMO'S  STORY — UNKNOWN  SEAS — THE 

ISLAND    SURVEY A    NEW    MONTE    CRISTO — 

OLGA  DARINE'S  TRUST. 

When  Fedor  Orlof  awoke  to  the  day  he  had  long  waited 
for  in  his  heart  hunger,  he  sprang  eagerly  to  the  ship's  side. 
There  in  the  lovely  bay,  below  Mount  Edgecumbe's  snow- 
filled  crater,  lay  the  long  jutting  point,  with  its  great  three- 
storied  castle  proudly  dominating  the  native  huts  stretched 
along  a  dreary  lake.  High  perched  on  the  rocky  cliff,  over 
Baranoffs  huge  stronghold,  the  blue  and  white  St.  An 
drew's  cross  spoke  of  that  mighty  power  whose  iron  hand 
stretched  thousands  of  miles  over  Siberian  wastes  to  grasp 
here  the  closed  seas  of  Behring! — 

Dark  masses  of  gloomy  straggling  trees  clung  to  the 
castle  cliffs.  To  the  right  under  the  protecting  guns  of  the 
mansion  fortress,  the  towers  of  the  great  cruciform  Greek 
church  arose  on  the  thin  blue  air! — It  was  a  great  feast 
day  of  his  national  creed! 

As  the  musical  bells  swelled  out  in  their  solemn  peals, 
Fedor  Orlof 's  eyes  filled  with  tears! — For  he  had  no  part  in 
God's  blessed  peace! — No  happy  voice  within  him  whispered 
of  a  Savior's  love! — Forgiveness  of  the  past  he  dared  not 
hope  for,  as  his  haggard  eyes  rested  on  the  hand  which 
smote  his  brave  old  kinsman  on  that  night  of  fatal  madness! 
— He  was  unshriven— unforgiven! — Not  for  him  God's  holy 
peace!— 

The  ship's  boats  were  soon  lowered,  and  the  boatswain's 
call  mustered  the  crew  to  land  and  swell  the  audience  lis- 

6 


86  THE    PRINCESS    O*    ALASKA. 

tening  to  the  gorgeous  ceremonial  of  the  bearded  Greek 
bishop,  in  his  princely  vestments. 

Fedor  lingered  sad  at  heart,  his  eyes  turning  from  the 
quaint  Eskimo,  in  their  splendid  canoes,  to  the  beautiful 
gorge  of  Indian  River,  and  all  the  varied  beauties  of  the 
picturesque  northern  harbor. — The  pines  on  the  far  hills 
sent  down  their  incense  of  peace  and  the  air  of  freedom 
blown  from  American  shores,  now  fanned  the  aching  brow 
of  the  noble  convict. 

In  wild  medley,  the  rejoicing  crew  hastened  to  effect  a 
landing. — Fedor  Orlof  started,  as  over  his  tea  and  hard 
bread,  he  heard  the  merry  shouts:  "All  hands  ashore  for 
the  church  parade!  " 

"  You  convicts  are  also  to  be  landed!  It  is  a  legal  feast 
day!  "  growled  a  quartermaster. 

And  Pierre  Lefranc's  eyes  dropped  guiltily  before  his 
friend's  glance,  for  already  he  was  Prince  Zubow's  paid 
spy! — But  Orlof's  heart  was  only  thrilling  with  the  thought 
of  Olga  Darine!  His  earthly  divinity!  There,  beyond  the 
silent  waters, — perchance  from  her  prison  window, — she 
now  gazed  at  the  weather  beaten  corvette,  grimy  with  its 
Arctic  struggles  with  the  wild  waves!  Did  her  lonely  heart 
cling  still  to  her  lost  lover? — Fedor  was  as  pale  as  marble 
in  his  guarded  ecstasy  of  pain! 

The  surrounding  bay  brought  back  to  the  ruined  gentle 
man,  dreams  of  lovely  Naples,  with  the  sweep  of  its  blue 
gulf,  and  the  silver-tipped  mountains  hovered  over  him 
with  their  everlasting  benediction! 

Orlof  thought  of  peerless  Olga  Darine  as  he  saw  her 
last, — her  eyes  shining  with  all  the  tenderness  of  the  hap 
less  love  for  which  she  had  risked  the  golden  years  of  her 
life! — He  dared  not  breathe  his  hope  of  a  meeting  at  Sitka, 
to  Lefranc! — His  good  angel  sealed  his  impetuous  lips!  — 

The  Frenchman  was,  however,  strangely  jubilant! — Al- 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  7 

ready  he  felt  assured  of  his  ultimate  freedom,  if  not  of  a 
future  fortune! 

"  Why  should  I  now  complicate  myself  with  any  desper 
ate  attempt  at  escape? "  he  mused,  as  the  two  prisoners 
made  their  hurried  preparations  for  landing.  "  I  may  find 
pardon,  even  reinstatement,  in  the  favor  of  these  rich 
schemers! — Serge  Zubow  seems  to  have  a  subtle  influence 
over  all  governmental  agents. — Has  he  also  a  ring  of  con 
cealed  partners  at  the  capital?  Friends,  these  might  be 
his  in  that  corrupt  net  work  ever  reaching  its  golden  webs 
around  the  Russian  throne! — As  for  Orlof,  he  is  only  a 
sentimental  dreamer,  and  his  unbroken  pride  may  lead  him 
to  a  rebel  prisoner's  grave!  I  will  keep  out  of  his  affairs! 
He  is  of  no  use  to  me  now! — And  yet  he  knows  of  my  earlier 
schemes!  I  must  keep  his  confidence,  and  trust  to  fortune 
to  finally  separate  us!  Zubow  hates  him!  Orlof  will  not 
be  likely  to  follow  me  in  the  hidden  service  of  these  daring 
conspirators!  " 

As  the  officers  and  crew  manned  the  boats,  the  two  con 
victs  were  roughly  huddled  in  with  the  common  sailors. — 
Fedor's  heart  beat  high  as  they  glided  over  the  glassy 
waves  towards  the  beach  where  the  fierce  Kalushes  entrap 
ped  and  murdered  Tchirikoff  s  two  boat's  crews,  in  1741. 

Here,  in  this  bay,  French,  Spanish  and  English  explorers 
for  two  hundred  years  had  vaguely  sought  for  the  hidden 
golden  northern  treasures !  Keener  eyed  than  greedy 
Spaniard,  wiser  than  the  ill-fated  French,  more  discerning 
than  the  stolid  English  or  the  gold-seeking  Russians,  in 
eighteen  hundred  and  ten,  with  an  unheard  of  individual 
enterprise,  the  private  flag  of  John  Jacob  Astor  fluttered 
here  on  his  trading  ship  "  Enterprise!  " — The  richest  Amer 
ican  of  his  generation  had  only  followed  the  lead  of  the 
richest  American  of  revolutionary  times,  for  Astor's  boat 
only  filled  itself  with  the  rich  skins  and  priceless  furs  sought 
for  in  seventeen  hundred  and  ninety-two,  by  Yankee  Cap- 


88  TIN-:     I'KINCKSS     ol      ALASKA. 

tain  Gray,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  who  piloted  General 
George  Washington's  ship,  the  "  Columbia!"— The  Father 
of  his  Country  had  as  keen  an  eye  to  the  commercial  future 
of  the  United  States,  as  to  the  political  principles  adapted 
to  the  Republic's  future  in  his  immortal  Farewell  Address! 
— He  saw  the  star  of  Empire,  in  his  dreams,  on  its  west 
ward  way! 

It  was  here,  in  Sitka  sound,  that  the  flags  of  England, 
Russia  and  the  United  States  met  now  in  the  peaceful  con 
junction  of  ardent  territorial  extension!  Peter  the  Great, 
dying  in  1725,  in  the  arms  of  the  heroic  camp  follower 
whom  he  had  crowned  as  Empress  the  year  before,  left 
his  policy  clearly  mapped  out,  of  seizing  Northwestern 
America,  as  a  sacred  legacy  to  his  wily  wife  and  bold 
daughter!  Right  well  and  truly  did  Catherine  I.  begin  the 
now  sacred  work!  Following  to  the  grave  in  two  years, 
the  man  who  had  made  her  the  greatest  Empress  on  earth, 
Catherine  trusted  the  design  to  their  brave  daughter!  And 
when  the  blood  stained  diadem  of  Russia  glittered  on 
Elizabeth  Petrovna's  brow,  she  loyally  fiulnlled  the  dying 
mandates  of  her  genius  CTOWfttd  father  and  mother!  Tchir- 
ikoff's  strong  hand,  at  her  bidding,  seized  these  mystic 
shores,  already  dominated,  in  thought,  by  dead  Peter's 
dauntless  mind! — 

The  reign  of  the  Russian  knout  and  shackles  of  Musco 
vite  force,  of  lust  and  fraud,  began! — The  peaceful  Eskimo 
yielded  up  millions  as  tribute  paid  in  furs  of  surpassing 
richness  some  of  qualities  as  yet  unknown  to  European 
luxury! — And  that  dark  minister  of  Hell, — gunpowder, — 
loosened  its  voice  here  on  September  26,  1745, — for  on  the 
island  of  Agoto,  Chuprofs  fierce  Russians  shot  in  wanton 
sport,  the  first  unsuspecting  native!  Murder  must  reign 
first  where  civilization  breaks  in !  Civilization's  MWr  bap 
tism  ! 

The  Czarina's  flag  was  a  herald  of  untold  misery! — Ac- 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  89 

cursed  be  the  hour  when  Tchirikoff  ploughed  into  these 
peaceful  Arctic  waves! — Fifty  years  of  murder  and  wanton 
arctic  bloodshed  rivalled  even  the  butcheries  of  the  relent 
less  Spaniards  in  their  first  American  forays! — It  was  a 
mere  brutal  delight  in  blood  which  caused  Feodor  Solovieff, 
in  the  name  of  the  Czarina,  to  butcher  three  thousand 
natives  with  his  own  hand!  Nero  and  Caligula's  grim 
shades  would  joy  at  meeting  the  dark  Russian  assassin!  - 

Captive  Orlof,  as  he  stepped,  an  abject  convict,  on  the 
strand  at  Sitka,  shuddered  as  he  gazed  on  the  great  wind 
ing  stairs  leading  up  to  the  frowning  castle  of  three  huge 
houses,  stockaded  and  manned  with  a  fierce  soldiery, 
backed  by  ready  artillery! 

There  were  fat  fluttering  robes  of  women  already  winding 
slowly  down  towards  the  great  log  church! — From  the  high 
double  tower  over  the  porch,  the  sweet  bells  chimed  on 
this  peaceful  Sabbath  morn! — The  great  cross  shaped  edi 
fice,  with  its  bell  shaped  timber  dome,  showed  bravely  its 
gaudy  green  roofs  and  golden  summit  crosses  in  the 
Autumn  sunlight ! —And  was  her  beloved  form  nearing 
him? — He  groaned  in  helpless  suffering — a  prisoner! 

Here  was  the  symbol  of  the  pure  orthodox  Byzantine 
faith!  Fedor  Orlof,  touching,  first  as  a  disgraced  felon, 
the  American  strand,  forced  his  way  through  a  crowd  of 
jeering  soldiers,  frowsy  natives  and  idle  renegades,  and 
realized  at  last  his  degraded  position!  Fixing  his  eyes  on 
vacancy,  he  mutely  followed  his  guards, — keeping  step  in 
silence  with  Pierre  Lefranc.  -- The  prisoners  marched 
swiftly  along  over  the  beach  where  heartless  Solovieff 
caused  to  be  bound  twelve  helpless  Aleuts,  and  firing  his 
heavily  charged  musket  found  to  his  delight  that  he  had 
killed  nine  human  beings  at  one  shot! 

Blessed  be  the  flag  not  stained  with  such  hellish  atroci 
ties  !  The  coming  of  intelligent  Baranoff,  in  1799,  for 


QO  ['III.     I'KIV    ESS     01      A!  .A 

twenty- eight  years,  gave  at  least  a  uniform  severity  to  the 
ferocity  of  the  Muscovite  invaders. 

Here,  before  he  planted  a  settlement,  bold  Baranoflf  saw 
the  Unalaska  native  uprising  of  1762  repeated! — It  was 
while  the  Governor  was  absent,  carrying  out  the  plans  of 
the  great  Shelikoff,  that  BaranofFs  Russian  garrison  was 
suddenly  butchered  by  a  rebellion  of  the  wild,  maddened 
Kalushes! — 

In  1804,  returning  with  three  heavily  armed  vessels,  the 
sturdy  tyrant  scourged  the  Sitkan  village  wtth  his  heavy 
guns,  and  then  builded  his  great  castle,  in  grim  defiance, 
on  old  chief  Katalan's  hill!  Around  this  natural  fortifica 
tion,  in  filth  and  squalor,  the  expiring  Aleuts  linger  to-day, 
under  the  starry  flag  of  our  Republic,  which  has  replaced,  by 
purchase  from  a  tyrant,  the  emblem  of  Russia's  insolent  do 
minion! — Great  Peter's  lineal  heir  sold  to  us  for  paltry  gold, 
the  dominion  of  a  land  where  fifty  thousand  butchered 
natives,  scattered  in  unknown  graves,  add  to  the  horrors 
clinging  to  that  row  of  marble  tombs  in  the  Imperial  Rus 
sian  mausoleum  on  the  Neva! — God's  judgment  waits! 

Orlof's  eyes  were  downcast,  as  past  the  richly  dressed 
officials,  through  a  line  of  curious  strangers,  the  crew  of 
the  "  Seevoutch"  filed  devoutly  into  the  great  church. 
Flushed  with  wine,  his  hands  sparkling  with  gems,  rich 
Prince  Serge  Zubow  lazily  gossiped  at  the  door  with  some 
high  officers  whose  breasts  were  covered  with  glittering 
badges  of  honor. 

Orlof  caught  quickly  a  passing  scowl  as  Zubow's  eye 
met  his! — His  threatening  hatred  was  soon  forgotten,  for 
Orlof  heard  in  dismay  a  jeering  inquiry,  "Ah!  Maxutoff, 
shall  we  today  hear  your  hidden  song  bird? — Or,  do  you 
keep  her  for  your  own  delight  alone?  " — 

Fedor  Orlof,  with  the  second  nature  devotion  of  the  high 
born  Russian,  dropped  on  his  knees,  in  the  gloomy  corner 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  QI 

assigned  him! — He  was  frozen  with  a  sudden  terror!  "  My 
God!  This  fiend  knows  the  history  of  Olgd!  " 

And  as  he  gazed  on  the  barbaric  richness  of  the  altar  and 
its  jeweled  shrines,  Fedor  Orlof,  the  outcast  felt  abandoned 
of  God  and  man! — The  mass  began. — 

As  he  prayed,  in  a  helpless,  mental  panic,  the  deep  musi 
cal  voice  of  the  Slavonic  celebrant  rolled  out  in  its  reso 
nant  bass.  An  answering  choir  of  boy  voices  swelled  on 
high  in  answering  childish  treble. 

He  could  scarcely  see  the  pillared  dome,  the  great  over 
hanging  silver  chandeliers,  the  richness  of  the  paintings 
wherefrom  the  blessed  Redeemer  smiled  in  promise  and 
the  Holy  Virgin  gazed  down  in  ineffable  love! — For  his 
eyes  were  clouded  in  piteous  sorrow! 

Before  the  jewelled  altars  with  their  opened  gold  bronze 
doors  bearing  images  of  saint  and  angel  carved  in  purest 
silver,  the  priests  in  flushing  vestments  of  princely  richness, 
loudly  implored  the  throne  of  Grace! — There  was  a  hush 
of  expectation! 

The  unhappy  noble  raised  his  eyes,  for  the  Governor- 
General's  official  party  had  now  entered,  and  the  rustle  of 
the  robes  of  the  ladies  was  faintly  heard  upon  the  smooth 
floor  of  polished  white  cedar.  The  aristocrats  arranged 
themselves  in  rows  in  the  nave,  which  was  devoid  of  seats, 
while,  with  a  quivering  heart,  OrloPs  eyes  were  lifted  to 
scan  face  after  face! — There  was  no  mistake  as  to  Prince 
Gregory  Maxutoff!  Pale  of  cheek,  with  a  gentle  wavering 
light  of  the  eye,  his  air  of  dominion  and  reserve  marking 
the  easy  going  noble,  still  a  certain  vacillation  clung  to  his 
handsome  weak  face. 

By  his  side,  earnest  eyed  and  serious,  clad  in  richest 
robes  of  otter  and  black  fox,  with  a  priceless  sable  collar 
of  state,  stood  the  Princess  Beatrice  Maxutoff.  Her  wist 
ful  face  was  pale  and  her  dark  womanly  eyes  gleamed  over 
the  serried  mass  of  sailors,  and,  tender  as  a  Murillo 


92  THi:    I'KIN  ALASKA. 

Madonna,  rested  on  Orlof's  handsome  face!  "  Did  she 
r.'ti'gnisc  him?  "  The  prisoner  prayed  for  oblivion! — 

"She  knows  of  my  terrible  past!  The  curse  of  innocent 
/>/cod!  The  ban  of  shame!'"  thought  the  sad  convict,  as  he 
dropped  his  eyes  and  shunned  the  gentle  lady's  gaze. 

When  he  timidly  glanced  at  her  again,  a  beautiful  girl  of 
five  years  was  clinging  to  the  mother's  delicately  gloved 
hand. 

Fedor  Orlof  was  in  a  dream  as  the  music  swelled  and 
mingled  with  the  chanted  prayers.  Around  the  princely 
Governor  General  of  Walrussia  and  his  stately  wife,  were 
gathered  a  bright  and  happy  throng  of  ladies  and  men  of 
evident  rank.  The  winsome  child  was  to  be  the  little 
Princess  of  Alaska  at  the  Czar's  nod! — So  dreamed  her 
fond  sire! — 

The  transition  from  the  squalor  of  the  corvette's  steerage, 
and  the  rude  surroundings  of  his  convict  cabin  on  the  wild 
Amur  to  this  rich  and  stately  interior,  brought  back  to 
Orlof  the  happy  olden  days  when  he  breathed  the  air  of  free 
dom-. — when  to  him  clung  the  invisible  nimbus  of  birth  and 
rank! — He  caught  the  vain  glances  of  Lefranc  gazing  at 
the  official  cortege;  all  happy  in  the  superstitious  religious 
exultation  of  a  Russian  Church  feast  day! 

For  once,  the  prisoners  were  really  actuated  by  the  same 
craving  ft.,  r  freedom  ! 

"  The  poorest  servant  of  one  of  the  officers  there  seemed 
a  king,"  so  said  once  wretched  Dostvieffsky,  in  his  "Ten 
Years  of  Living  Death."  "Everything  we  could  imagine 
in  a  free  man, — compared  with  prisoners  at  least!  They 
had  no  irons  on  their  limbs,  their  head  was  not  shaven, 
they  could  go  when,  and  where  they  liked,  with  no  brutal 
soldiers  to  menace  and  escort  them!  " — 

And  so,  across  the  lane  left  between  the  bond  and  the 
free,  the  two  disgraced  officers  gazed  in  envy  at  happy 
Prince  Maxutoff's  guard  of  honor. — 


THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA.  93 

It  was  but  for  a  moment  that  Fedor  Orlof's  heart  sank  in 
a  wild  spasm  of  regret  for  his  wasted  years!  The  ghost  of 
an  old,  lost  love, — of  the  fond,  mad  passion  which  chained 
him  still, — warmed  his  heart.  The  beautiful  brown-eyed 
child  had  caught  the  singular  beauty  of  OrloPs  pale  manly 
face,  and  it  was  marble  white,  when  the  Princess  again  fixed 
her  eyes  upon  him  in  surprise! 

Orlof  started  forward,  as  the  holy  mystery  of  the  mass 
proceeded, — for  from  behind  a  veiled  screen, — a  voice  as 
thrillingly  clear  as  the  springing  sky  lark,  broke  on  the 
hushed  silence  of  the  worshipers!  Swelling,  rising  and 
floating  in  pleading  melody,  through  the  great  interior,  its 
rich  accents  chained  the  listeners  with  a  sudden  astonish 
ment!  It  was  Olga — the  lost  love  of  old! — 

To  Fedor  Orlof,  the  silver  strain  was  an  angel's  voice! 
For  there,  his  unfaltering  eyes  dimmed  with  happy  tears, 
he  heard  again  the  matchless  music  which  had  thrilled  him 
often  /;/  a  far  off  world,  so  long  forgotten  now! — It  was 
Olga  Darine,  in  very  truth! — 

Beneath  the  convict  gray,  the  distracted  lover's  heart 
vainly  struggled  to  burst  the  very  bonds  of  the  flesh! — 

The  same  air  of  God's  holy  temple,  now  thrilling  under 
her  exquisite  pleading,  was  breathed  by  them  in  peace,  and 
her  intoned  prayer  to  the  almighty  filled  his  heart  with  a 
peace  beyond  all  words!  It  was  the  blessed  realization  that 
she  was  at  last  near  him!  That  her  beloved  spirit  still 
clung  to  its  framing  casket,  the  graceful  form  he  had  so 
often  clasped  to  his  breast  in  truest  love! — 

Ah!  God!  To  glance  but  once  behind  that  cedar  screen, 
— to  see  the  pale  proud  face, — her  golden  hair  crowning 
the  fair  young  brow!  To  gaze  into  her  dark  Hungarian 
eyes,  gleaming  in  tenderness,  their  liquid  depths  murmur 
ing  her  loving  heart's  purest  passion!  " 

With  a  quick  gasp  he  recovered  his  self-control  as  the 
voice  ceased!  He  would  have  fallen  but  for  one  lightning 


94  *HE     I'klNCKSS    OF    ALASK 

thought!  As  the  floating  strains  died  upon  the  air,  fra 
grant  with  incense,  and  the  chorus  swelled  in  an  appeal  to 
the  Most  High,  broken  by  the  resounding,  deep  voice  of 
the  ministering  celebrant,  Orlofs  anxious  eyes  strayed 
anxiously  to  the  malicious  bright  face  of  his  dreaded 
princely  enemy! — There  was  a  knowing  smile  and  a  sneer 
of  eager  deviltry  playing  on  Serge  Zubow's  brutal  counten 
ance!  The  Siberian  palatine  was  whispering  meaningly 
now  to  smooth  Phillippi, — and  over  his  dull  face  settled 
the  tiger-like  expectation  of  the  waiting  villian!  The 
prisoner  shuddered.  The  leer  of  triumph  betrayed  the 
villian's  thoughts! 

"I  must  be  calm!  Oh!  God!  Give  me  wisdom  now! 
Guide  me  for  her  sake!  "  thought  Fedor  Orlof,  steeling  his 
heart  to  a  stoic  calmness,  though  his  white  lips  whispered, 
"  For  my  own  innocent  darling's  sake!  " — 

"If  I  could  only  meet  iier!  But  how  can  I,  a  guarded 
prisoner,  hope  to  reach  her  here!"  He  glanced  at  the 
vapid,  skeptical  Frenchman  by  his  side. —  "I  will  trust  to 
the  God  of  the  friendless, — not  to  you, — paltry  flatterer! — 
cringing  suppliant!  "  he  murmured  in  his  sudden  pain. — 
The  minutes  crawled  slowly  away,  and  in  a  grand  burst  of 
a  triumphant  chorus,  the  passion  play  in  God's  temple 
on  these  Alaskan  shores,  reeking  with  the  blood  of  the 
innocent  natives,  was  at  an  end!  The  throng  of  worship 
ers  broke  slowly  up.  A  chorus  of  joyous  salutations 
swelled  around! — 

For  all  not  tabooed  by  the  laws  of  honor,  there  were 
hearty  handshakings  and  warm  greetings,  even  to  the 
lowest  in  station. — But  while  the  sailors,  in  holiday  dress 
and  bright  side-arms,  remained  massed  in  a  compact  body, 
— the  officers  obsequiously  greeted  in  a  throng  the  princely 
representative  of  the  mighty  Czar,  Alexander  II! — In  his 
august  name,  Prince  Maxutoff  smiled  and  bowed,  the 
officers  paying  their  homage  to  the  refmedly  gentle  Prin- 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  Q5 

cess  with  the  customary  salute  of  a  kiss  upon  her  slender 
hand. — Of  all  the  happy  circle,  Orlof  and  Lefranc  alone 
stood  unnoticed  and  despised!  To  the  easy-going  French 
man  it  was  only  one  more  petty  humiliation! — To  Fedor 
Orlof  it  was  a  negation  of  his  natural  rights  as  a  man, — a 
Russian  orthodox  Christian, — a  noble, — and  a  companion  of 
the  sword! — 

Alas!  he  was  under  the  ban  of  crime! — As  he  stood 
irresolute,  the  Prince's  pretty  child  cleared  with  a  few  steps 
the  vacant  space  between  the  prisoner  and  the  glittering 
official  group. — Attracted  by  the  bright  faced,  distinctive 
beauty  of  the  ruined  soldier,  the  little  girl  shyly  said,  "And 
won't  you  too,  kiss  my  mamma's  hand?"  It  was  as  the 
voice  of  an  angel!  Soon,  with  a  gentle  inclination  of  her 
head,  Princess  Beatrice  nodded  to  a  graceful  form  in  black, 
now  at  her  side.  The  child's  departure  was  noted!  All 
eyes  were  turned  on  him!  The  convict  noble  and  the 
budding  Princess  of  Alaska!— 

Fedor  Orlof's  very  heart  stopped  its  beating  as  the  light 
step  of  his  lost  love,  now  strangely  found  again,  his  beloved, 
approached! — Entering  from  the  choir  stalls  it  was  only  to 
receive  the  Princess'  summons  to  reclaim  the  pretty  truant! 
She  neared  the  man  who  braved  a  Czar's  wrath  for  her 
sake! 

A  few  seconds  and  Olga  was  at  his  side!  Bending  over 
the  willful  fairy,  Princess  of  Alaska,  she  whispered,  "Irma! 
you  must  come  with  me!  "  and  then  the  dreamy  eyes  met 
her  lover's  in  one  speechless  glance  of  ravishing  tenderness! 
It  pierced  Fedor  Orlof's  very  soul!  For  the  sweet  spell 
was  on  him  once  again!  It  was  a  thrilling  greeting!  A 
true  soul's  recognition!  A  world  of  thankfulness  for  the 
fate  that  had  brought  them  once  more  face  to  face,  and  the 
new  pledge  of  a  deathless  love!—  Olga  turned  in  silence! — 

A  rustle  of  her  robes  and  she  was  gone!  Fedor  Orlof 
never  moved,  but  stood,  apparently,  awaiting  the  guard's 


96  THK     PRINCESS     OF     ALASKA. 

orders  to  depart!  The  happy  worshipers  filed  out  of  the 
entrance,  and  then  the  smart  voices  of  command  broke 
the  silence  as  the  disciplined  sailors  marched  forth  to  their 
return  to  the  ship  and  their  waiting  feast. 

As  Fedor  fell  in  behind  the  marching  column  Lefranc 
whispered,  "  What  a  beauty!  Did  you  see  her?  " 

11  See  whot  "  absently  muttered  Orlof,  speaking  as  if  in  a 
dream! 

Lefranc  shrugged  his  shoulders,  "  Orthodox  fool"  he 
muttered,  "  gazing  at  the  pictured  saints  and  forgetting 
the  sight  of  this  dainty  Eve!  " 

At  the  door  the  excited  lover  noted,  as  they  righted  the 
onward  movement  of  the  column,  a  whispered  colloquy 
between  Prince  Maxutoff  and  his  enemy,  Serge  Zubow, 
now  leaning  forward  eagerly.— He  addressed  the  Governor 
General. 

"Thafs  the  fellow!  The  tall  one!  "  sharply  said  the 
harsh-voiced  Tartar. 

"Ah!  I'll  order  him  ashore  to-morrow,"  was  the  response 
in  Prince  Maxutoff's  lazy,  restrained  voice,  modulated  by  a 
refined  softness. 

The  brightness  of  a  new-found  heaven  of  anticipation 
shone  in  Fedor's  heart!  Hope  leaped  up  triumphant,  for 
besides  the  promise  of  these  cheering  words,  he  had  gazed 
for  one  happy  minute  wort  in  Olga  Darine's  eyes,  as  she 
stood  near  him,  the  laughing  child  playing  with  her 
restraining  hand!  Though  all  speech  was  denied  them, 
the  two  loving  souls,  intent  upon  each  other's  heart  history, 
could  safely  signal  in  the  burning  glances  of  their  meeting 
eyes,  "All is  well!  "— 

Fedor  was  wildly  happy  at  heart, — for  the  dear  one 
whose  face  had  gazed  so  long  upon  his  lonely  dream- 
haunted  pillow,  boie  still  the  freshness  of  peace  and 
beauty  on  her  pure  brow!  No  sin  or  shame  had  ploughed 
its  furrow  ou  tae  buoyant  brightness  of  her  calm  counten- 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  97 

ance!  "Thanks  be  to  God!"  mused  Orlof.  "  The  close 
companionship  of  the  noble  lady  has  been  my  poor  darl 
ing's  shield  in  her  time  of  danger! — The  little  Princess  has 
saved  her!  God  bless  the  child!  "— 

And  knowing  now  of  the  possible  chance  of  his  further 
detention  at  Sitka,  Fedor  was  happy  at  heart,  for  the  long, 
lonely  day,  as  he  sought  his  gloomy  bulkhead  on  the  ship. 
He  had  watched  with  a  secret  delight,  Olga's  graceful 
springing  step,  as  she  mounted  the  rocky  slope  toward 
Baranoff  Castle.  There  was  womanhood,  life  and  love  in 
her  every  attitude!  He  was  thankful  to  God  to  have  seen 
her  dear  face  thus,  once  more,  even  though  speech  was 
denied  them!  And  while  he  secretly  joyed  over  Lefranc's 
partial  ignorance,  the  Frenchman  was  slyly  counselling 
with  his  new  masters  !  Prince  Zubow  was  this  day 
Particularly  jubilant!  —  He  chuckled  toPhillippi:  "  Maxutoff 
is  a  simple  goose!  He  is  mad  as  a  March  hare  about  his 
fabled  gold  mines,  and  will  now  shut  himself  up  to  study 
the  coast  maps  with  this  convict-fellow,  Orlof  !  We  are 
well  rid  of  his  sharp  eyes!  Haughty  as  he  is,  he  is  no  fool! 
And  we  can  now  do  as  we  please  in  the  port,  while  Maxutoff 
moons  with  this  convict  gold  hunter  to  be!" 

Poor  Orlof  slept  all  unconscious  of  this  stroke  of  an  in 
credible  good  fortune! The  wild  winds  rocked  him  to 

sleep  as  the  corvette  swung  at  her  chains!  — 

Long  after  the  wassail  in  the  great  second  story  ban 
queting  hall  had  ceased,  beautiful  Olga  Darine  gazed  from 
her  high  window  on  the  swinging  red  and  green  lights 
marking  the  corvette's  anchorage  as  the  graceful  cruiser 
veered  idly  with  the  tide! 

Baranoff  Castle  was  dark  and  still! — Only  the  cry  of  the 
wild  sea  bird  sailing  by  the  impregnable  rock,  or  the  sen 
tinel's  hoarse  call  broke  the  impressive  stillness  of  the 
night!  The  stockade  gates  were  closed  and  locked,  and  in 
the  guard  house  casemates,  two  companies. of  picked  troops 


98  Tin     PRIN<  !  5S    OP    ALAS1 

watched  the  lofty  eyrie  where  Governor  Maxutoff's  wife 
and  little  heiress  peacefully  slumbered. — 

Below  the  cliff,  in  a  huge  three-storied  warehouse,  were 
garnered  up  two  million  dollars  worth  of  Imperial  tribute 
furs! — Secure  in  the  twenty-four  inch  log  walls,  baled  and 
bundled,  were  thousands  of  the  sleek  rich  otter  furs,  the 
pelts  of  the  shyest  animals  of  the  watery  world!  A  boy  at 

play    might   lift    a    thousand    pounds'    worth! In    light 

packets  of  fifty,  cased  in  tin,  were  the  weasel-like  skins  of 
priceless  Russian  sable,  the  coveted  spoil  of  Khamschatka 

and  far  Kodiak! One   oblong  pair   of  the  richest  black 

hue,  whose  inch  deep  fur  of  silky  softness  indicated  fifty 
years  of  Siberian  solitude,  would  bring  a  hundred  golden 
imperials  at  Petersburg!  A  prattling  child  might  roll  away 
a  bale  worth  ten  thousand  pounds! — An  arctic  treasury  of 

spoil   wrung,    from   the    starving   Aleuts  ! The    Czar's 

tribute  !— 

Black,  blue,  golden  and  silver  fox  skins, — ermine,  by  the 
thousand, — by  the  million, — the  marten, — tons  of  the  fossil 
walrus  ivory,  huge  piles  of  wolf,  bear  and  river  otter,  rein 
deer,  deer,  beaver  skins  and  other  peltry,  whalebone  by  the 
tens  of  thousands  of  pounds  and  scores  of  thousands  of 
salted  fur  seal  skins,  filled  these  great  storehouses  with  the 
distant  Emperor's  annual  tribute. 

For  of  the  whole  world,  the  PrybilofTs  and  Komandorski 
groups  were  the  chosen  home  of  the  mysterious  marine 
wonder — the  "sea  bears!"-  — Callorhinus  Ursinus, — the 
eared  seal, — a  rover  of  the  ocean,  had  long  sought  his 
peaceful  breeding  place  in  those  quiet  fog  hidden  islands!  — 

Over  the  future  harvest  of  the  floating  treasure,  Serge 
Zubow  and  sly  Anton  Phillippi  merrily  plotted  in  their 
cups,  while  lovely  Olga  Darine  looked  out  alone  in  the 
clear  starlit  night!  — Her  heart  clung  to  her  convict  lover 
in  his  sad  solitude!  The  call  of  Love  thrilled  her! — Tin- 
past  returned  with  all  its  vanished  promise!- 


PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  99 

Under  her  window,  the  tall  Muscovite  officers  of  the 
Guard,  with  knightly  chivalry,  closely  inspected  the  sen 
tries,  for  at  any  moment,  a  cloud  of  Yankee  pirate  traders 
might  swoop  down  on  Sitka!  A  foreign  war  vessel  might 
bring  the  news  of  a  new  European  conflict  by  its  hostile 
broadside,  though  the  jagged  rocks  of  Sitka  Channel  pre 
vented  a  quick  surprise  of  this  kind!— 

And  even  the  wild  Kalushes,  crazed  with  their  tribal 
wrongs,  might  creep  in  by  the  exquisite  vale  of  Indian 
River  and  put  all  to  the  sword,  and  destroy  the  Czar's 
tribute  with  the  magic  touch  of  their  best  friend,  Fire! — It 
had  been  easily  done  in  Baranoff 's  time,  when  he  left  his 
unsuspecting  garrison  behind! 

But  the  Crimean  War  and  the  American  Civil  War  had 
waked  up  the  easy  going  Russians,  and  Gregory  Maxutoff, 
— though  slumbering  now  under  richest  silk  canopies,  in 
the  fair  upper  room,  cedar  lined, — was  a  keen,  alert  dis 
ciplinarian!  His  trust  was  an  important  one!  "And  his 
child  must  be  the  Princess  of  Alabka!" — So  he  kept  his 
watch, — to  earn  this  glittering  dignity! 

The  great  second  floor,  arranged  for  ceremonies, — so  that 
one  vast  assembly  hall  could  be  made  by  the  removal  of 
its  partitions, — was  only  tenanted  now  by  the  golden 
framed  portraits  of  the  land's  rulers, — haughty  Czars, — and 
beautiful  Czarinas! — Here,  as  in  every  room  of  orthodox 
Russia,  the  icons  and  holy  pictures  had  the  highest  place 

of  honor  in  a  reserved  corner! Tyranny  and  devotion 

side  by  side  ! 

In  a  safe  corner  of  the  first  floor,  adjoining  the  great 
state  chamber  of  the  princely  pair,  laughing  little  Irma 
Maxutoff  had  closed  her  tired  eyes  in  the  happy  sleep  of 
childhood,  guarded  by  the  singer  queen!  It  was  the  pretty 
snow  bird's  dainty  nest!— 

Ever  pacing  through  the  great  halls  of  the  castle,  the 
warders  of  the  night  made  hourly  inspections,  on  tip  toe, 


100  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

lest  the  Czar's  vice-gerent  might  wake! — As  the  midnight 
hour  sounded  from  the  distant  church,  where  the  formal 
summons  of  a  state  worship  seemed  ever  pealing  on  the 
air,  Olga  leaned  over  the  sleeping  girl  and  kissed  her  rosy 
lips! — For  she  had  now  loosened  her  gown,  and  on  her 
knees  beside  the  prie  dieu,  implored  the  mercy  of  God  for 
her  unfortunate  lover! 

Bend  as  she  would  before  the  gracious  Saviour  and  the 
Murillo-like  Virgin,  framed  in  gems  and  silver,  where  the 
fragrant  altar  lamp  alone  lit  up  her  room,  warmed  by 
the  crackling  birch  logs  blazing  on  the  hearth, — the  loving 
woman  saw  only  Fedor  Orlof's  eyes! — His  love  alone  filled 
her  longing  heart! — 

"God  help  me!  /  love  him  too  much  to  aid  him!  I  must 
think!  My  Fedor!  Poor  tortured  heart!"  She  recalled 
sadly  that  youthful  whirl  of  passion  which  turned  him 
away  from  his  mental  balance!  She  alone  in  the  world 
knew  that  he  was  only  the  victim  of  an  unhappy  delirium! 
The  sacrifice  of  Fate!  The  pale,  aristocratic  face  of  the 
high-souled  Orlof  haunted  her  now!  It  was  fw  mean  thief 
who  burst  into  the  cabinet  to  seize  by  force  the  means  to 
bribe  her  way  out  of  Russia's  menacing  dangers! — Her 
lover  sinned  only  to  save  her  from  an  Imperial  volupt 
uary's  arms!  It  was  not  for  murder  that  Fedor  struck 
blindly,  in  the  night,  his  tiger  nature  at  last  aroused! — It 
was  to  secure  his  freedom  and  her  own  life  \  —Would  he  not 
have  left  all  his  lands, — fortune, — titles, — wealth, — his  high 
rank  and  even  the  kind  favor  of  an  Empress,  to  wander 
•over  the  world  happy  alone  with  her! — And  God  had 
spared  to  this  time,  Olga  Darine,  the  knowledge  of  aught 
else  but  some  unfortunate  tragedy!  She  knew  not  that 
•fatherless  Vera  Orlof,  weeping  at  Stephan's  tomb,  dared 
not  think,  as  she  dropped  the  wreath  of  Russian  violets  on 
her  Mre's  silent  breast,  of  the  once  beloved  Cousin  Fedor! 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  1O1 

The  unwitting  killing  of  his  kinsman!  It  was  a  fatal 
chance! 

"How  can  I  contrive  to  reach  him!  Where  shall  I  see 
him?  "  cred  Olga,  her  soft  dark  Magyar  eyes  veiled  in  tears. 

The  gentle  child  stirred  in  her  sleep,  and  reached  out 
to  her  two  loving  arms! — In  an  ecstasy  of  love  and  plead 
ing  passion,  Olga  threw  herself  on  her  knees  by  Alaska's 
little  Princess,  who  was  gently  smiling  in  her  sleep? 

"  May  God  give  him  to  me  again!  My  noble  Fedor!" 
she  whispered,  "  and  while  I  have  shared  angel  Beatrice 
MaxutofFs  home  in  peace,  my  brave  lover  has  been  under 
the  black  prison  ban  of  Siberia!  Fedor!  Fedor!  Fedor! 
If  these  arms  clasp  you  once  again,  to  my  bosom,  we  will  die 
together!  Even  Fate  shall  not  divide  us  !" 

Eight  bells  on  the  "  Seevoutch,"  found  the  officers 
busied  next  morning  in  the  mysteries  of  "grand  tenue" 
toilette,  for  the  midday  feast,  whereat  the  Governor  Gen 
eral  would  formally  welcome  his  guests!  On  the  morrow, 
the  "Seevoutch,"  emerging  into  dainty  nautical  full  dress 
from  the  battering  of  the  long  Arctic  voyage,  would  be  vis 
ited  in  state,  by  the  official  cortege,  headed  by  the  debo 
nair  Prince  Maxutoff.  The  decks  swarmed  with  the  busy 
crew  at  work! 

Before  stately  Commander  Linieff  left  his  cabin  he  sent 
for  Fedor  Orlof,  now  a  momentary  prey  to  every  anxiety! 
They  were  alone  in  the  cabin,  while  Linieff,  in  all  the 
splendor  of  his  rank,  sipped  his  coffee,  after  morning 
reports. — 

"Sit  down,  Orlof,"  he  said  kindly,  "I  have  received  an 
order  to  send  you  on  shore  here,  under  a  guard,  to  Baran- 
off  Castle. — For  the  present,  you  will  be  attached  to  Prince 
Maxutoff's  person,  as  scientific  clerk. — It  will  be  far  easier 
than  ordinary  prison  life,  and  I  hope  that  you  will  be 
enabled  to  shorten  your  long  term  by  future  valuable  ser 
vices  to  the  Governor.  Good  luck  to  .you!  I  wish  to  thank 
7 


102  -I'llK    I'RINX'ESS    OF    ALASKA. 

you  for  the  handsome  set  of  drawings!  Now,  I'll  send  you 
ashore  at  once,  in  the  dingy.  Get  your  little  things 
together.  Here,  this  may  be  of  some  use!" — the  manly 
sailor  held  out  a  rouleau  of  gold,  while  his  bronzed  face 
crimsoned. — Don't,  don't  refuse,  my  poor  friend!  It  may 
help  you  in  some  sad  hour  of  need? — I  have  sent  a  package 
of  Petersburg  papers  and  some  other  little  things  into  the 
boat,  for  you!" 

Fedor  Orlof  was  stunned  with  such  manly  kindness,  and 
the  sudden  happiness  of  being  busied  near  his  lost  darling 
melted  his  proud  heart!  He  brushed  a  tear  from  his  eye, 
and  brokenly  said:  "I  thank  you,  commander,  and  I 
will  take  your  gold! — God  bless  you!" — He  stepped  for 
ward,  and  by  an  impulse,  their  hands  met. 

"I  am  sorry  for  you,  Orlof!  God  knows  I  ami  But 
Maxutoff's  a  good  fellow!  He  will  treat  you  with  some 
regard  to  your  birth  and  real  merit!  Go!  Beware  of 
Zubow!  "  he  whispered. 

Ah!  Gallant  sailor  heart,  it  beats  generously  under 
every  flag,  on  every  sea! — The  mariner  stands  by  the  help 
less  in  frank  cordiality! — 

"I  am  to  be  sent  on  shore,  Pierre,"  coldly  said  Orlof  to 
the  Frenchman,  as  he  gathered  up  his  few  belongings.  He 
little  knew  that  Commander  Linieff  had  sent  a  complete 
outfit  from  the  ship's  stores  into  the  boat,  so  that  only  the 
black  patch  of  the  convict  coat  told  next  day  of  his  past 
squalor.  "Blessed  are  the  merciful!"  This  wreath  lingers 
on  gallant  LiniefFs  lonely  grave  to-day,  in  the  God's  acre 
at  Nagasaki,  where  he  was  later  stricken  down  by  chol 
era's  dread  scourge.  His  admiral's  flag  was  only  lowered 
to  King  Death!— 

"Oh!  I  will  see  you  sooni  Perhaps  it  is  better,  Fedor!" 
dissembled  Lefranc.  "  They  will  keep  me  busy  some  days 
on  board! — Bonne  chance, — camaradcl" 

The  easy  familiarity  grated  on  Orlof  s  ear. 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  103 

"Fool!  Blind  fool!"  muttered  Lefranc,  as  Fedor  Orlof 
turned  a  last  sad  glance  at  his  floating  prison,  "  Zubow's 
dark  eye  follows  you!  You  have  doomed  yourself!" — and 
Lefranc  to  his  morning  vodki  in  Prince  Zubow's  cabin, 
for  he  was  now  the  secret  naval  engineer  of  a  vast  con 
spiracy! — He  had  dropped  Orlof  from  his  life,  for  the  pres 
ent  as  a  mere  puppet  of  fate,  useless  and  unnoticed! — 

On  through  the  fleet  of  quaint  Indian  canoes,  each  hol 
lowed  from  a  single  giant  cedar,  the  man-o'-war's  boat 
sped  shoreward!  High-prowed,  filled  with  rum-besotted 
natives,  their  paddles  flashing  in  air,  these  painted  vessels 
of  the  savages  were  hideously  brilliant  in  ochres  and  pig 
ments!  It  was  a  weird  scene! — 

Past  the  squalid  Indian  villages  where  the  uncouthly 
carved  totem  poles  towered  fifty  feet  in  the  air,  the  ship's 
boat  glided  to  the  rocky  strand. — Grinning  figures  sur 
mounted  the  tall  masts  of  family  symbols,  or  ancestral 
tribe,  carved  into  rude  shapes  of  the  bear,  walrus  and  seal! 
— A  death  in  life, — a  desolation, — lay  around  : — for  the 
crowded  graveyard  was  near  the  crumbling  Indian  huts! — 
Rum,  the  dark  minister  of  Hell,  was  at  its  unerring  game  of 
wholesale  murder! — 

The  ivory,  ostrich  feathers,  gold  dust,  furs  and  palm  oil, 
the  whalebone,  spoils  of  the  chase, — the  untainted  woman 
hood, — all  the  poor  riches  of  the  indigenes  of  the  world, — 
continually  groped  over  by  conquerors  since  the  fifteenth 
century, — have  been  sold  for  Hell's  darkest  brew, — the 
trader's  rum!  Drink!  Drink! — Whether  the  silver-necked 
siren  of  Veuve  Cliquot, — the  fiery  stream  of  Kentucky's 
still, — or  the  drugged  potion  of  the  slave  trader, — the  mod 
ern  freebooter,  or  coarse  frontier  sutler — on  this  burning 
tide  of  alcohol, — the  undying  spirit  of  sin,  of  crime,  of 
rapine  and  murder,  has  entered  the  soul  of  reckless  man  or 
helpless  woman  ever  since  the  Devil  found  his  High  Priest 
pf  Hell  ready  at  his  hand! — 


104  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

—"Jump  out, prisoner!"  rudely  bawled  the  guard,  as 
the  boat's  keel  grated  on  the  sand. 

"Hold  on,  sentinel!"  said  a  young  middy.  "  You  can 
come  up  with  these  natives  and  see  these  things  delivered 
at  the  guard  room!  I  will  take  this  prisoner  up  mysflf  to 
Prince  Maxutoff  and  get  a  written  receipt  for  him!  " 

"I  am  ready,"  said  the  young  officer,  quietly,  as  Orlof 
stood  chafing  in  useless  rage  on  the  strand,  and  Fedor  only 
then  realized  the  exquisite  courtesy  of  the  bluff  Commander! 
— Toiling  up  the  great  stairs,  his  eye  roving  over  the  witch 
ing  beauty  of  the  grand  Sitka  Archipelago,  spread  out 
below  him,  Fedor  Orlof  hardly  dared  to  breathe,  when  his 
foot  crossed  the  threshold  of  the  castle  of  Baranoff !  The 
same  roof  covered  them  now!  His  long  lost  darling 
waited  him  here! — 

He  stood,  between  two  sentinels,  in  the  guard  ante-room 
while  an  Adjutant  reported  to  Prince  Maxutoff!  He  knew 
the  old  romantic  tales  of  wild  adventures, — of  woe  and 
wassail, — of  love's  tragedies  and  human  despair,  clinging 
to  the  huge  stronghold  mansion  fort!  The  rattle  of  gold 
at  the  gaming  table, — the  shouts  of  drunken  carousal, — 
the  sighs  of  helpless  womanhood, — and  the  last  groans  of 
sad  captives  led  out  from  here  to  summary  execution! — 
The  yells  of  battle  wild, — the  proud  huzzas  of  victory, 
echoed  in  thought  through  the  silent  rooms  of  the  vast 
timber  citadel! — It  was  at  once  a  palace,  a  prison,  a  fort 
and  a  home!  To  Orlof,  it  was  to-day  a  jewel  casket!  Its 
old  stained  cedars  were  as  holy  to  him  as  those  of  Lebanon, 
for  Olga  Darine's  darling  head  was  shielded  from  the 
storms  of  winter  by  their  sturdy  shelter!— 

"Come  on!  "  kindly  said  the  returning  midshipman, "the 
Prince  will  see  you  before  the  guests  arrive!'  Orlof's 
heart  beat  high  as  he  crossed  the  official  wing  of  the  huge 
castle  and  passed  into  the  middle  third, — the  family  strong 
hold.— From  the  grated  windows,  he  could  see  the  doubled 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  IO5 

sentries  pacing,  heavily  armed,  on  the  long  palisaded  gal 
leries. — Following  his  guide,  he  passed  into  a  grand  work 
ing  room,  with  the  windows  giving  an  exquisite  view  of 
blue  Sitka  Sound  with  its  thousand  islands  gemming  the 
silent  seas,  dreaming  there  unflecked  by  a  single  sail! — The 
room  was  richly  hung  with  banners,  imperial  pictures  and 
rare  trophies  of  the  chase!  Desks,  tables,  couches  and 
easy  chairs  littered  the  floor.  Glass  cases  of  curiosities, 
huge  maps  and  chests  and  rows  of  reserved  modern  weap 
ons,  (ready  for  use)  lined  the  walls.— 

As  the  young  naval  officer  motioned  to  him  to  be  seated, 
one  of  the  three  side  doors  from  the  interior,  easily  opened, 
and  slight,  aristocratic  Prince  Maxutoff,  clad  in  a  clinging, 
undulating  feather  weight  robe  of  sea  otter,  stepped  into 
the  room. — His  kindly  eye  rested  on  the  lithe  figure  of 
Orlof,  his  clean-cut  face  passionless,  as  he  stood  in  readi 
ness,  his  uplifted  hand  at  the  soldier's  salute. — 

"Ah!  yes!  the  prisoner  Orlof" — the  Governor  General 
said,  with  a  visible  embarrassment,  returning  the  salute, 
"  Be  seated!  You  have  the  papers  ready,  Ensign?  " 

He  strode  forward  and  scrawled  the  word  "  Maxutoff.'' 
That  signature  on  the  paper  now  gave  up  to  him,  body  and 
soul,  the  mute  prisoner! — 

The  young  officer  bowed,  as  the  Prince,  handing  him 
the  receipt  for  a  born  Russian  noble,  indicated  that  the  audi 
ence  was  ended! 

11  Good-bye,  Major  Orlof/"  said  the  shy  subaltern,  as  he 
extended  his  hand  to  the  seated  convict! — Orlof  sprang  to 
his  feet,  and  Olga's  ring  cut  deep  into  the  sailor's  bronzed 
pal 

"By  Heaven,  he  has  a  manly  grip,  poor  fellow  f}  thought 
the  Ensign,  as  he  hastened  away  to  return  to  the  "  See- 
voutch"  and  don  his  own  gala  garb. — 

"I  have  a  conference  to-day  here  with  an  important  Indian 
Chief," — said  Maxutoff,  throwing  himself  in  a  chair.  "Do 


106  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

vflu  speak  any  Eskimo  dialect?" — He  eyed  the  convict 
anxiously. — 

"Not  a  word,  Your  Excellency,  I  have  been  busied  only 
on  the  Amur,"  said  Fedor,  in  reply. 

"Ah!  very  well!" 

Maxutoff  closed  his  eyes  in  dreamy  thought. — He  was 
subtle,  if  weak! — 

"This  prisoner  cannot  spy  out  my  great  secret!  He  may 
be  just  the  <V;T  man!  " 

"You  know  gold  mining .?" — his  voice  was  anxious. 

"  I  had  a  special  two  years  course  at  the  School  of  Mines, 
and  four  years  later  practical  experience — in  Siberia" 
mournfully  replied  Orlof. 

"  You  wrote  the  detailed  report  for  General  Dachkof  of 
which  he  has  sent  me  a  copy!  " 

Orlof  bowed  in  assent. 

"  And  you  can  assay  /  " 

"I  am  an  expert,  I  may  say,"  simply  answered  the  con 
vict. 

"Ah!" 

Maxutoff  s  long  drawn  sigh  of  satisfaction  was  not  lost 
on  Fedor,  who  had  already  learned  the  sad  art  of  a.  pris 
oners  study  of  men  and  official  manners. 

"Make  yourself  at  home  here!  Wait  here!  You  can 
look  over  these  maps  and  charts  of  the  coast!  I  may 
need  you  later  this  morning!  I  will  be  engaged  for  some 
time!" 

He  rang  the  bell.     A  soldier  butler  appeared. 

"  Ivan,  see  that  this  person  has  a  good  breakfast!  He  is 
to  remain  here!  I  have  the  reception  to  dispose  of  first. — 
Is  old  Chief  Thorn  at  hand  .?" 

The  soldier  having  answered  with  a  bow,  Prince  Maxut 
off  then  gave  a  few  whispered  directions  to  the  watchful 
orderly. 

"This  man  will  provide  for  your  present  wants,"  said  he 


i'HE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  iO? 

to  Fedor.  "  I  will  need  to  use  your  skill  after  my  reception 
is  over! " 

He  retired  with  a  quiet  glance. 

"  That  man  is  a  gentleman  of  blood;  he  shows  it!"  said 
the  Governor.^  "  It  is  a  hard,  hard  fate  whim  brings  him 
here!" 

— Orlof  was  in  a  dazed  stupor,  as  the  soldier,  saluting, 
said: 

"If  the  Bar  in  wants  anything  I  am  to  provide  itf 

The  Star  of  Hope  was  at  its  zenith! 

"My  man,  I  am  only  a  prisoner  /"  sternly  said  Orlof,  in 
some  astonishment. 

"Yes,  but  I  know  you  are  a  high  Barinf  he  sturdily 
replied.  "I  am  only  serf  born!" 

The  old  soldier  left  the  room,  after  pointing  out  a  wait 
ing  ante-room,  and  an  adjacent  orderly  room  now  empty, 
for  the  Governor  General's  mansion  was  walled  off  by  the 
official  castle  building  at  each  end.  "For  you!" — he 
bowed  his  exit. — The  convict  examined  his  surroundings. — 

"They  cannot  lose  me"  bitterly  thought  Fedor,  as  from 
a  jutting  bay  window  he  gazed  along  the  exterior  gallery. 
"  Three  watchful  sentries  at  half  pistol  range, — and  a  guard 
station  at  each  corner, — besides  this  Tarpeian  rock!  "  He 
heard  the  sudden  patter  of  childish  feet,  and  started  up  as, 
with  a  merry  laugh,  little  Irma  ran  into  his  arms,  as  he 
stooped  in  the  curtained  bay  window!  He  had  made  a 
graceful  capture! — 

The  merry  little  Princess  of  Alaska  nestled  in  his  arms! 

There  was  the  sound  of  a  light  foot  in  pursuit, — the 
rustle  of  a  robe,  and,  peering  expectantly  within  the  recess, 
Fedor  Orlof  s  burning  glances  rested  on  his  beloved  Olga 
Darine;  her  wistful  dark  eyes  sparkling  beneath  the  coronal 
of  golden  hair!  —He  gasped  and  leaned  against  the  carved 
cedar  post,  his  hand  pressed  on  his  heart  in  the  exquisite 
rapture  of  this  unspeakable  moment!  His  darling's  eyes 


10$  iHi:     t'RlNO.SS    OF    ALASKA. 

were  fixed  on  his  speechless  tenderness!  Her  voice  broke 
the  silence  of  four  years  Death  in  Life! 

" Mouse!      Your  mamma  wanis  you  I '' 

She  caught  up  the  child,  and,  at  the  door,  allowed  her  to 
escape  in  frolic  glee!— 

As  the  happy  fledgling  Princess  fled  away,  Olga  Darine, 
with  her  slender  hands  clasped  on  her  sculptured  bosom, 
thrilled  in  Love's  delicious  pain, — with  a  rosy  finger  at  her 
lip,  whispered:  "  Wait  here,  my  beloved!" 

Fedor's  quick  eye  glanced  around  the  lonely  room!  — 
Before  he  could  well  scan  the  one  sheltered  angle,  clasped 
in  his  strong  arms,  Olga  Darine  lay  once  more,  her  delicate 
face  pale  with  the  intense  emotion  of  a  tortured  heart! 
Her  arms  were  clinging  round  his  neck,  and  heart  to  heart, 
the  lovers  felt  their  throbbing  pulses  beat  in  the  unison 
of  an  unearthly  delight!  It  was  the  supreme  moment!— 

"Fedor!     Fedor!  "  she  murmured,  "Never  to  be  parted!  " 

" As  God  wills!  Darling!  "  whispered  the  tall  soldier, 
when  his  lips  met  hers,  in  the  pledge  of  a  love  victorious, 
even  in  the  shadow  of  Death!— They  listened  with  wildly 
beating  hearts! 

"I  am  to  be  here  all  day  in  waiting!  "  he  whispered. — 

"  Beware!  The  soldier  may  come  back!  "  Olga  answered. 
"And  no  one  must  know!  " 

He  thought  with  lightning  decision  of  the  imperilled 
future!  She  was  right!  Their  very  life  was  in  peril!— 

"Irma  plays  here  all  day!  The  Princess  will  be  detained 
at  this  formal  breakfast!  Can  you  trust  to  your  self-con 
trol?  I  will  come  back  here  then!  Speak  only  French! 
But,  wait,  wait,  my  love,/^r  me!  I  will  comeback  the  very 
moment  they  enter  the  reception  room!  The  greetings, 
the  sacouska,  the  feast  will  take  time! — We  will  have  hours 
to  ourselves!— Remember  always  the  child!  She  must  not 
suspect!'' 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  IOQ 

"God  bless  her!  "  he  murmured,  "The  little  angel  led  you 
to  me!  " 

And  on  his  breast,  her  lips  clinging  to  his  in  a  silent 
rapture,  Olga  saw  again  the  prophetic  scene  of  the  night 
before! — The  sleeping  child  who  smiled  and  opened  her 
dainty  arms,  while  before  the  silent  face  of  the  Blessed  Re 
deemer,  on  her  knees  the  captive  prayed  for  this  blissful 
meeting  to  come! — A  distant  sound  was  heard. — 

"  For  my  sake!  Remember,  my  beloved!  "  And  Olga  was 
gone! 

Fedor  was  dazed  as  in  a  dream! — 

In  their  future  days  of  happiness,  the  parted  lovers  could 
not  recall  the  moments  fleeting  by  on  this  hazardous  morn 
ing, — the  furtive  confidences, — the  occasional  visits  of  the 
soldier  butler, — the  stolen  hour  spent  in  unrolling  the  scroll 
of  Love, — of  tracing  the  long  sad  past! — 

From  the  banquet  hall,  the  sound  of  ringing  laughter 
alone  broke  upon  the  stillness  of  the  cabinet  room! — When 
once  or  twice,  Prince  Maxutoff  entered, — he  found  the  tall 
prisoner  gazing  earnestly  on  the  maps,  or  playing  with  the 
pretty  child. 

"This  whole  house  is  her  playground,  you  can  easily 
see!"  said  Maxutoff  lightly,  as  he  smoothed  the  hair  of  his 
only  child. — "An  excursion  to  Indian  River  valley,  or  a 
boat  ride,  are  all  my  poor  Irma's  pleasures!"  And  the 
Prince  turned  away  unsuspecting!  But  the  charm  of  Love 
had  gilded  a  new  world  with  its  magic  touch! 

Serge  Zubow,  a  skilled  social  tactician,  soon  found  a 
pause  in  the  feast,  wherein  to  speak  of  the  wonderful  music 
of  the  church  service. 

"Which  of  your  ladies  is  the  brilliant  singer?"  craftily 
said  Zubow,  the  guest  of  honor,  as  he  scanned  the  joyous 
wine-flushed  faces  of  the  beauties  of  the  official  suite. 
They  were  all  strangers  from  the  barracks  in  the  town. 

"  It   was   Madame  Alien,  my  Swedish   governess!" 


no  Tin:   PRI\<  i  R  \. 

coldly   replied    Princess  Beatrice,  with   a   quick   intuition. 

The  persistent  Prince  continued,  a  hawk-like  gleam  light- 
ing  up  his  pitiless  eyes. 

'•Ah!  the  golden-haired  beauty  who  was  with  your  little 
Irma  yesterday !  She  does  not  grace  your  feast  ?  " 

There  was  a  sinister  inquiry  in  his  voice. 

"Madame  Alten  sees  no  one!  "  pointedly  remarked  Princess 
Beatrice.  "  Her  devotion  to  my  child  has  placed  me  under 
an  obligation,  but  her  giving  up  her  whole  time  to  MS,  as 
my  friend,  chains  her  heart  to  mine!  " 

"And  this  beauty  really  languishes  invisible?  " 

There  was  a  mocking  ring  in  Zubow's  harsh  Tartar 
voice. 

"  In  my  society,  she  is  certainly  free  from  any  intrusion!  '' 
defiantly  remarked  Princess  Maxutoff,  with  a  resolution 
which  made  even  Zubow  wince. — 

"I  beg  pardon,  Madame,"  he  murmured,  as  he  chal 
lenged  Commander  Linieff,  with  the  toast  of  "The  Russian 
Navy!"— 

"The  song-bird  may  try  her  wings  yet,  ma  tres-difficile 
Princess,  for  all  your  sharpness!  we  must  see  about  a  golden 
cage!" 

And  Serge  Zubow,  in  silence,  pledged  the  dark  Hunga 
rian  eyes,  whose  witchery  had  roused  the  brooding  devil 
in  his  veins! 

"  Of  course,  she  has  a  story!  Madame  Alten, — a  Swede! 
—Her  eyes  belie  the  tale!  And  yet,  the  Swedish  nightin 
gale  voice!  I  will  reach  her!  Gold!  Bribery!  Maxutoff 
is  as  weak  as 'My  Lady '  seems  sharp  and  eager!  I  will 
find  a  way!  Zubow's  way!  The  golden  path!" 

When,  flushed  with  the  champagne  excitement  so  dear 
to  the  Muscovite,  Zubow  questioned  Phillippi  as  they 
reluctantly  left  the  feast  in  the  early  afternoon,  the  Fur 
King  stolidly  replied,  as  they  descended  from  the  citadel. 

"Bother   the  hidden  prima   donna!     She  is  a  later  play- 


1HK  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA.  ill 

tiling!  First,  let  us  get  Prince  Maxutoff  hoodwinked! 
Two  millions  in  furs!-  If  we  can  start  them  for  Russia, — 
we  know  where  they  will  land!  The  Czar's  silent  partners!" 
he  chuckled,  "and  Maxutoff  will  have  to  bear  the  brunt! 
Ifs  a  royal  scheme!  " 

But  the  princely  Governor  General  heard  not!  He  was 
now  at  his  working  table,  translating  the  old  Aleut  Chief's 
story  to  Orlof. 

Beautiful  Olga  had  warned  Fedor  not  to  betray  in  his 
excited  manner  his  sudden  happiness  ! 

"  All  depends  on  your  self-control!  My  own  Fedor!  "  she 
said,  clinging  to  his  breast!  "  I  can  trust  to  Beatrice  Max 
utoff,  with  our  lives,  but, — only  at  tJie  last!  Be  wary,  and 
please  the  Prince!  Get  a  firm  hold  on  him  as  his  only 
counsellor  about  these  fabled  gold  fields! — Above  all,  show 
no  recognition  of  me!  My  heart  beats  now  in  your  bosom! 
I  will  hover  around  you,  and  I  only  fear  they  may  hear  my 
pulses  leaping  in  joy,  as  I  come  into  your  presence!  Irma 
runs  in  and  out  over  the  whole  mansion  division  of  this  log 
palace  fort,  and  I  will  be  always  near  you!  Be  pa  tienl!"- 

So,  Fedor  Orlof  bent  his  mind  to  the  will  of  the  enthusi 
astic  Prince  Maxutoff. 

It  was  a  strange  scene!  Before  them,  lying  on  a  couch, 
the  old  Indian  Chief  Thorn  lay  swathed  in  rich  furs. — His 
eyes  were  almost  sightless. — His  heavy  stunted  frame  was 
shrunken  with  age,  and  deep  wrinkles  carved  channels  in  his 
low-browed  mahogany-colored  face.  Straggling  strands  of 
coarse  gray  hair,  once  black  and  bushy,  fell  on  his  tem 
ples,  and  his  knotted  hands  firmly  clutched  an  idol !  He 
was  a  vindictive  old  rebel  Kalush  chief,  now  a  prisoner! 
The  last  of  the  old  Shamans,  or  ruling  magicians  who  ate 
of  tender  human  flesh  before  the  affrighted  subject  tribes  ! 
Well  he  was  known  and  feared  from  Victoria  to  Point 
Barrow!  In  his  wild  youth,  he  had  led  his  fleet  of  war 
canoes,  with  fifty  savage  natives  in  each,  to  the  mouth  of 


112  .  LASK.A. 

the  far  distant  Vukon  River,  silently  ilowing  into  icy  Behr- 
ing  Sea!  He  had  seen  the  gloomy  Arctic  ocean  stretching 
out  to  the  Pole,  from  lonely  Point  Barrow,  and  had 
chased  the  fierce  brown  bear  on  the  slopes  of  Mount  Fair- 
weather  and  peerless  Mount  St.  Elias.  towering  nineteen 
thousand  feet  in  air!  He  treasured  yet  the  golden  British 
sovereigns  given  him  for  reaching  alone  Fort  Selkirk  and 
Fort  Good  Hope  on  the  mystic  MacKenzie  River  fifty  years 
before!  Sly,  cruel,  wise,  crafty,  he  was  more  than  a  match 
for  easy  going  Prince  Maxutoff!  Fedor  Orlof  had  ample 
time  to  collect  his  wandering  thoughts  before  Maxutoff 
gave  up  cross-questioning  the  old  man-eating  chief! 

"/  hardly  know  what  to  do  with  this  old  wretch!  "  cried 
Maxutoff,  in  French  to  Orlof.  <;I  can  get  nothing  more 
from  him  than  that  the  gold  island  is  five  days'  voyage  pad 
dling  from  here!  He  has  given  up  to  me  some  little  grain 
gold! — He  says  he  will  have  his  young  men  get  much  more! 
But  1  cannot  force  the  location  trom  him. 

"What  does  \\zfear,  mon  Prince?  "  earnestly  said  Orlof. 

"  He  wishes  certain  privileges  from  me  for  his  tribe,  con 
cessions  and  guarantees,  which  I  cannot  give  without  the 
Czar's  approval!  I  can  only  kill  him!  He  will  not  yield! 
The  secret  would  then  die  with  him!  I  will  be  frank  with 
you,  Major  Orlof,"  said  Maxutoff,  "/  need  your  help!" 
Fedor  drew  his  breath  hard.  He  was  madly  excited.  "  I 
know  of  your  great  scientific  attainments!  I  wish  to 
secure  a  fortune  for  my  wife  and  child!  I  wish  to  leave 
Irma  the  title  of  Princess  of  Alaska!  I  can  ameliorate 
your  terrible  condition!  Now,  if  I  officially  announce  these 
discoveries,  should  we  perfect  them,  the  property  belongs 
to  the  crown!  If  I  should  obtain  a  royal  patent  to  these 
lands  for  myse/fthe  Emperor  gets  but  a  tenth  of  the  treas 
ure!  I  cannot  honorably  guarantee  the  old  chief  what  he 
wants!  /  never  broke  my  word  of  honor!  But  I  can  issue 
his  tribe  liberal  supplies  and  presents!  I  can  even  give 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  113 

him  a  store  of  Russian  gold!  I  can  treat  him  well!  The 
real  reason  I  cannot  meet  his  demands  is  that  this  country 
called  Aliaska  by  us  will  be  called  Alaska  in  a  year  or  two 
by  new  masters!  Count  Fersen  took  the  secret  report  home, 
finally  advising  its  sale  to  the  Americans!  Gortschakoff  and 
Seward  have  only  waited  for  the  close  of  the  American 
war  to  conclude  the  cession!  Neither  power  wished  to 
defend  it  in  a  war  against  England!  I  will  give  you  a  room 
here  in  the  house, — you  shall  have  a  desk  in  my  cabinet. 
I  ask  of  you  only  co-operation, — the  service  of  a  man  of 
honor! — I  will  induce  this  crafty  old  red-man  to  get  me  rocks 
and  soil  from  the  location  of  the  gold!  I  will  flatter  him! 
He  offers  to  have  a  council  of  his  tribe  and  to  do  all  that 
I  wish!  We  may  thus  be  able  to  deduce  the  location! — 

"  You  are  a  geologist  and  savant!  I  may  send  you  out 
with  his  natives!  Now,  all  this,  if  I  turn  the  country  over 
so  as  to  meet  the  Emperor's  approval,  may  tend  to  your 
final  pardon  and  rehabilitation!  All  now  depends  on  your 
keeping  faith  and  promising  not  to  try  to  escape!  I  will 
treat  you  as  one  of  my  staff!  Do  you  promise?  " 

"I swear  it  by  my  mother's  grave!"" 

"Then,  Major  Orlof,"  said  Maxutoff,  gleefully,  "I  will 
dismiss  old  Thorn  for  to-day!  But  I  keep  him  near  me! 
He  was  the  head  chief  of  Al-ak-Shak  (the  great  land), — of 
its  half  million  square  miles  and  its  three  thousand  islands! 
— He  has  seen  sixty-five  volcanoes  blazing  at  once  here, 
and  his  father  fought  Captain  Cook!  He  is  to-day  the  un 
crowned  king  of  the  fifty  thousand  wild  savages!  He 
worships  the  mystic  god  of  the  fifty  miles  of  glacier,  and 
communes  with  the  spirits  of  the  boiling  and  medicated 
springs  at  Gorelei!  There,  enthroned  by  the  vast  eighteen- 
mile  round,  boiling  cauldron,  he  has  eaten  the  tribute  flesh 
of  a  maiden  from  every  tribe!  We  must  outwit  him!  His 
power  is  wonderful!  I  have  seen  him  with  five  thousand 
Indians  around  him,  address  the  inswarming  fish  of  the 


114  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

sea!  Not  a  spear  or  net  was  lifted  till  the  dread  old  Sha 
man  gave  his  august  permission!  Through  him  we  can  gain 
all!  He  guards  yet  the  skulls  of  sailors  killed  from  the  first 
American  ship  *  Atahualpa,'  from  Boston,  coming  here  in 
1802!  I  have  vainly  tried  to  gather  ghastly  relics  from 
him!  He  is  as  wise  as  he  has  been  disgustingly  licentious 
and  ferocious,  and  his  subjects  are  the  same!  We  live  in 
constant  fear! — That  is  why  I  keep  my  wife,  my  child  and 
Madam*  Alien,  our  governess,  locked  safely  here  from 
these  diseased,  filthy,  polygamous  idolaters!  I  trust  only 
to  my  guards  and  our  ready  artillery!  Now,  Major,  the 
'Seevoutch'  will  soon  sail!  I  shall  treat  you  with  reserve 
while  the  visitors  are  here!  After  that,  you  can  be  made  a 
member  of  the  family!*'  The  Governor  rang  his  bell. 
"  Let  the  Captain  of  the  Guard  send  for  some  soldiers  to 
bear  the  old  chief  out!  "  cried  Maxutoff,  "and  pray  ask 
Madame  Alten  to  favor  me  with  her  presence!  " — As  he 
spoke,  and  the  orderly  hastened  away,  a  signal  gun  from 
the  outer  island  battery  boomed. — 

"A  ship  arriving  !  "  said  Maxutoff,  in  answer  to  Orlof  s 
glance  of  inquiry.  "  In  five  minutes,  I  shall  have  her 
name  and  description,  by  semaphore!  //  saves  us  going 
down  hill! ''  said  Maxutoff  laughing. 

Orlof  sprang  to  his  feet  and  stiffened  into  the  soldier's 
attitude,  as  Olga  Darine  noiselessly  entered  from  Madame 
Maxutoffs  boudoir.  "Your  Highness!"  she  said,  softly, 
with  downcast  eyes. — The  lover's  eyes  silently  met! 

"  Madame  Alten,  this  is  my  new  secretary,  Major  Orlof t 
of  whom  we  spoke!  I  wish  you  to  know  him  as  he  will  be 
of  my  working  force  this  winter!  Pray,  have  the  orderly 
room  fitted  up  for  his  use!  For  the  present,  his  meals  will 
be  served  there!  We  will  see  later  what  we  can  do!  " 

In  all  the  ordeals  of  Fedor  Orlof's  sad  career,  no  task 
was  equal  to  the  self-restraint  of  calmly  answering  the  dark- 


THE    PRINCJESS    OF    ALASKA.  115 

eyed  beauty,  whose  trembling  lips  murmured:  "f  am  happy 
to  know  Major  Orlof !  " 

The  voice,  sweet  as  the  wind  sighing  through  the  summer 
forest,  unmanned  him!  He  respectfully  kissed  the  lady's 
hand,  in  silence!  His  lips  were  burning  as  with  fire,  and 
her  delicate  hand  was  cold  as  ice  ! 

A  Lieutenant  of  the  Guard  entering  broke  the  tension  of 
the  anxious  moment.  "  The  American  whaler,  'Reindeer,' 
for  supplies  and  repairs!" 

"Tell  the  Port  Captain  that  I  wish  to  see  him!  Ah! 
Madame  Alten,  you,  can  show  Major  Orlof  his  room,  and 
bid  the  servants  unpack  the  bundles!  By  the  way,  Major, 
anything  you  wish,  my  butler  will  supply  from  the  public 
stores! — /  will  ring  when  I  wish  you!  " — 

Olga's  happy  eyes  had  read  the  secret  of  their  good  for 
tune,  and  standing,  heart  beating  to  heart,  in  the  silence  of 
the  little  orderly  room,  it  seemed  as  if  the  re-united  lovers 
were  entered  into  Paradise  ! — 

"Only  a  little  self-control  till  the  corvette  sails,  and  then 
Princess  Beatrice  shall  know  all!  We  can  trust  to  her 
noble  heart!"  whispered  the  happy  beauty. — 

Fedor  Orlof  was  glad  to  have  a  quiet  hour  of  self-com 
mune.  He  slept  the  sweetest  sleep  of  his  life,  dreaming 
now  only  of  a  golden  future! — 

Prince  Maxutoff,  in  a  half  hour's  evening  chat,  sketched 
out  his  future  plans,  and  said:  "With  the  two  million  dol 
lars'  worth  of  furs  which  I  have  collected, — turning  the 
last  season's  tribute  into  the  same  values, — I  can  send  the 
Emperor  an  enormous  final  present  to  add  to  the  seven  or 
eight  millions  in  gold  the  Yankees  gave!  And,  my  admin 
istration  honored,  my  career  closed,  if  we  can  discover  these 
mines,  my  good  Beatrice  shall  be  the  queen  of  a  future 
home,  and  Irma,  little  Irma,  the  richest  girl  in  Russia!  We 
must  succeed! " — 

A  week  glided  by  in  a  happiness  which  seemed  unearthly 


Il6  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

to  Fedor  Orlof,  who  had  been  now  presented  by  Madame 
Orlof  to  the  gracious  Princess  Maxutoff. 

"When  the  corvette  sails,  Major,  we  are  to  be  a  family 
winter  club!  So  I  shall  ask  you  to  brighten  our  table,  for 
my  Irma  has  truly  found  a  new  playmate!  " 

Handsome  Orlof,  now  in  all  externals  the  man  of  rank, 
sarc  tJie  gray  coat,  dared  not  to  lift  his  honest  eyes  to  the 
Murillo-faced  Russian  mother!  He  knew  but  too  well  that 
his  own  darling,  as  well  as  her  darling,  had  effected  the 
magical  change! — Love's  magic  touch  gilded  his  prison 
life!— 

It  was  on  the  eve  of  the  gunboat's  departure  when  Prince 
Maxutoff  said:  "  I  must  send  you  on  board  the  corvette, 
Orlof,  of  course  under  a  guard,  to  examine  the  ship's  maps! 
It  is  really  necessary  that  they  should  publicly  observe 
your  status!  Alas!  There  are  too  many  prying  eyes  and 
busy  spies  ready  ever  in  Russia!  You  may  see  Lefranc 
there,  your  late  companion!  Be  prudent!  You  will  be 
only  kept  on  board  an  hour!1' — 

As  Orlof  was  taken  in  a  shore  boat  to  the  war  ship's  side, 
he  noted  Prince  Serge  Zabow,  Anton  Phillippi  and 
Lefranc  returning  in  a  naval  boat,  with  several  Indian 
chiefs  and  a  robust-looking  American  mariner.  Lifting 
his  eyes  in  surprise,  he  noted  the  heavy-sparred  Yankee 
whaler  lying  two  cable  lengths  away,  and  at  her  side  eight 
beautiful  double-ended  whale  boats,  slung  in  the  davits. 
They  were  fit  to  ride  on  the  curling  foam  of  a  breaker,  and 
yet  elastic  enough  to  stand  the  howling  gales  of  the 
Ochotsk  Sea!  Housed  all  over,  with  furnaces  built  on 
deck,  and  swarming  with  men,  the  whaler  looked  like  an 
Arctic  pirate  flag  ship, — her  really  merited  designation  I 
After  a  half  hour's  examination  of  the  maps,  Orlof  bade 
Commander  Linieff  a  respectful  adieu! 

"You  find  Maxutoff  a  fine  fellow,  don't  you?"  began 
hearty  Linieff. 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  117 

He  stopped, — for  with  a  scowling,  evil  eye,  Prince  Serge 
Zubow  was  gazing  through  the  open  door. 

"Go!  God  bless  you!  Go  quickly, — for  your  own 
sake!"  cried  the  frank  sailor. 

Fedor  Orlof,  unsuspecting  and  happy  at  heart,  sought 
Pierre  Lefranc's  bulkhead. 

"Ah!  I  have  heard  of  your  good 'fortune!''1 sneered 

Lefranc,  "  /  am  to  sail  with  the  gunboat  and  be  left  at 
Kodiak!  But  Me  Mann  is  here!  My  turn  will  come!  That 
was  the  mate  whom  you  saw  in  our  boat!" 

Orlof  asked: 

"Where  had  you  been. 

"Oh!  Zubow  has  bought  an  American  bark  now  at 
Victoria,— a  relief  whaler.  McMann  is  going  down  -to 
bring  her  up,  and  I  am  to  build  them  a  brig  also  at  Kodiak! 
Maxutoff  fears  Prince  Zubow,  and  has  made  my  serving 
him  all  right!— When  that  brig  leaves  Aliaska,  /  go  with 
her!  "  joyously  cried  Lefranc. 

"  And  Zubow?"  anxiously  inquired  Orlof. 

"  He  will  winter  at  Kodiak!  He  goes  down  now  to  Vic-- 
toria  to  outfit  his  new  boat?  The  'Reindeer'  will  putf- 
them  in  a  homeward-bound  whaler  and  stand  off  and  or* 
the  coast  till  they  return.  By  the  way,  I  must  go  to  him 
now!  Adieu!  Camarade!  Look  out  for  that  pretty 
unknown  of  Maxutoff 's!  Zubow  has  his  eye  on  her,  and  he 
is  a  devil  of  a  fellow!  " 

"Where  were  j<?«  on  shore?"  sharply  said  Orlof,  holding 
out  his  hand  in  a  formal  good-bye. 

"Oh!  With  the  old  Shaman!  Zubow  and  he  are  fellow- 
scoundrels!  They  have  had  friendly  fur  dealings  for  five 
years.  We  got  to-day  some  rare  bargains! " 

"  How  about  the  gold  trade?  "  said  Orlof,  as  he  paused 
carelessly  at  the  door. — 

"  It  will  wait  till  next year^  if  old  Shaman  Thorn  is  liber 
ated,  I  may  then  find  out  the  secret!  He  ajone,  knowsl 
s 


n8  Tin:   PKINCF.SS  or  ALASKA. 

Well!  //  is  adieu!  "  coldly  remarked  Lefranc,  as  he  van 
ished. 

"  I  am  glad  I  did  not  tell  him  all!  "  said  Orlof,  with  vague 
distrust.  But  the  warning  as  to  Zubow's  penchant  for  the 
hidden  singer  chilled  his  heart! — 

The  next  day  when  the  Seevoutch  was  a  mere  blur  of 
distant  smoke  on  the  horizon,  Orlof  loyally  told  Prince 
MaxutofT  all! 

"Ah!  this  is  dangerous!  "  said  he,  repressing  his  feelings! 
"  I  will  watch  Prince  Zubow,  for  he  has  tried  to  force  his 
way  into  my  family  circle!  /,  too,  distrust  the  man!  The 
'Reindeer'  sails  to-morrow!  Then,  we  are  safe!  Our 
studies  can  begin, — and  I  can  ask  you  to  my  table!  I  must 
acknowledge  Prince  Serge  Zubow's  rank  openly,  but  I  fear 
him!  My  home  is  my  own!  " 

While  Orlof  watched  alone  for  signs  of  the  '  Reindeer ' 
being  gotten  under  way,  haughty  Serge  Zubow,  invincible 
in  his  millions,  drank  in  Madame  Allen's  beaut) !  He  was 
a  forced  guest  often  at  the  castle!  The  social  meeting 
could  not  be  avoided!  Her  brief,  cold  replies  could  not 
efface  the  thrilling  gleam  of  her  sloe-black  Hungarian 
eyes!  Unsuspecting  Prince  Maxutoff  saw  nothing! 

"I  will  get  this  weakling  Governor  in  my  power!  I  will 
rob  him  of  that  golden-haired  wonder!  An  angel's  voice,  a 
Hebe  figure,  the  face  of  a  Greuze  beauty,  and,— a  history! 
I  will  force  Prince  Maxutoff  to  give  her  up  to  me!  '' 

Serge  Zubow  laughed  coarsely,  as  he  lit  aTrabuco,  while 
sauntering  down  the  deep  ascent. 

"They  sail  on  the  morning  tide,  Major!"  cheerfully 
remarked  the  Prince  as  he  bade  the  now  relieved  watcher 
good  night! 

"  I  will  now  organize  a  survey  of  all  the  Islands  between 
here  and  Holy  Cross  Sound!  It  will  enable  you  to  exam 
ine  the  country  this  fall  and  early  next  summer.  The 
hidden  key  of  this  secret  is  held  only  by  the  wily  old  head 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  IIQ 

Shaman  Thorn!  He  shall  never  leave  the  range  of  Baran- 
off  Castle's  guns!  I  will  have  my  patrols  watch  the  haunts 
of  his  insolent  tribes  !  We  must,  with  your  scientific 
knowledge,  baffle  them  and  find  the  fields  of  gold!  / 
will  be  then  rewarded  for  my  ten  lonely  years  in  the  Arctic! 
A  self  expiation!  You  will  be  yet  rehabilitated,  and  you 
may  be  a  new  Monte  Cristo!  Let  us  then  work  together! 
Now,  I  can  give  you  the  privileges  of  a  gentleman!  The 
spies  are  gone!  " 

Gentle  Beatrice  Maxutoff,  sitting  at  her  child's  bedside, 
was  astonished  when  Olga  Darine  leaned  her  fair  head  in 
her  protectress'  hands  and  told  her  of  Zubow's  advances! 
There  were  choking  tears  in  her  voice,  as  she  cried : 

"  Save  me  from  that  dreadful  Tartar  ruffian!  You  saw 
his  glances!  *' 

Throwing  her  arms  around  her,  the  loving  Princess  cried: 
"Olga!  put  your  trust  in  me!  Your  life  shall  bt  as  pure  as 
my  own! " 


12O  THE    PRINCESS   OF   ALASKA. 


CHAPTER  V. 

PRINCE  MAXUTOFF'S  PLAN — THE  FUR  KING'S  PLOT — OLGA'S 

PRINCELY  LOVER "  I  MUST  BE  A  CONVICT'S  BRIDE!" 

HAND  AND  HEART! THE  SILENT  PARTNER 

"  THE  ISLAND  IS  MINE!  " 

The  three  happiest  weeks  of  Fedor  Orlof's  life  ran 
away  in  golden  moments  of  recurring  ecstasy!  Prince 
Maxutoff  soon  recognized  his  quick  administrative  abil 
ity,  and  sweet  Beatrice,  the  Lady  of  Baranoff  Castle, 
lived  a  new  social  life  in  the  hours  when  the  cultured 
noble  sat  with  Madame  Alt  en  in  the  Princess'  boudoir! — 
Little  Irma  was  already  devoted  to  the  gentle-mannered 
guardsman.  In  the  social  circle  the  clouded  past  was 
never  touched  on,  but  Olga  Darine's  thrilling  eyes  kin 
dled  as  Fedor  spoke  often  to  her  heart  alone  in  veiled 
tenderness! — Gregory  Maxutoff 's  quiet  remark,  "I  like 
my  secretary  always  to  appear  in  black!  I  despise  uni 
form!"  was  a  graciously  hidden  permission  to  drop  the 
convict  coat! 

11  Keep  your  « government  property'  at  hand,  should  a 
foreign  or  home  war  vessel  drift  in!  "  gently  said  Maxu 
toff.  Fedor  Orlof  folded  it  away  with  grateful  tears  in 
his  brave  blue  eyes,  for  it  spoke  of  General  Dachkof's 
generous  sympathy!  He  knew  now,  that  the  General  had 
sent  a  confidential  letter  recommending  him  to  Prince 
Maxutoff!  — And  the  quiet  morning  walks  on  the  great 
gallery  of  the  rock  fort  with  Olga  told  him  all!  She 
was  now  blooming  in  a  strange  beauty  which  startled 
even  the  calm  Maxutoff!  The  unrestrained  confidence 
of  the  time  soothed  her!  The  perfect  freedom  of  their 
days  was  a  boon  of  Heaven  when  they  were  alone! 


THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA.  121 

Prince  Maxutoff,  fond  of  the  chase,  often  went  far 
afield  or  sought  the  upper  reaches  of  lovely  Indian 
River!  Days  came  when  the  princely  pair  and  their 
laughing  heiress,  the  future  Princess  of  Sitka,  would  go 
to  the  distant  wooded  islands  to  give  the  little  girl  a 
boat  ride  and  a  run!  Then,  Olga  and  Fedor,  in  their 
solitude,  played  at  Prince  and  Princess! 

"I  am  happier  than  /  dared  ever  dream!"  he  would 
say,  as  her  head  lay  on  his  breast  The  world's  strange, 
hard  way  had  joined  their  lives  forever! 

"  You  cannot  leave  tlie  castle,  only  that  mark  of  bondage 
is  left!  "  she  would  often  murmur. — 

"  I  have  the  whole  world  with  me  when  you  are  by 
my  side!  Here  is  my  kingdom, — in  your  loving  heart!" 
he  would  answer! — 

Preparations  for  the  secret  voyage  kept  Maxutoff 
busied  with  the  old  Chief  and  in  the  labor  of  fitting  out 
an  old  relief  schooner.  — Orlof's  hidden  hand  directed 
all,  for  he  was  now  the  mainstay  of  the  Prince!  Study 
and  deduction  had  closed  in  the  region  of  search  as 
lying  between  Sitka,  Mount  Fairweather,  the  Tako 
River  and  Fort  Wrangell. 

"I  wish  to  get  you  away  before  Prince  Serge  Zubow's 
return! '"  said  the  Governor.  "He  is  too  high  in  rank 
for  me  to  openly  send  him  out  of  my  Jurisdiction!  Yet 
I  distrust  and  fear  him! — I  am  told  by  a  secret  agent 
that  he  was  closeted  for  days  with  Count  Fersen  at  the 
Khamschatkan  capital!  They  are  cool  plotters  and 
capable  of  any  scheme!  " 

Poor  Maxutoff  forgot  the  two  millions  of  his  hoarded 
fur  tribute,  the  proof  of  his  official  integrity!  Safe  now, 
but  later? — 

They  were  now  walking  on  the  gallery,  gazing  on  the 
magnificent  scene  of  Sitka  Bay  outspread  before  them. 


1  ~'J  Till;     I' i  ,i  A.sk  A. 

"What  Zubow   wants   more  ships  for,    I   cannot 
He  has  no  business  to  be  roving  over  Ih'hring  Sea,  what 
ever  hold  he  may  have  on  the  northern  Siberian  shore!" 

Alas!  Alas!  Easy-going  Maxutoff  did  not  know  that 
cunning  Serge  Zubow  had  learned  from  Count  1 
of  the  imminent  transfer  of  Aliaska!  That  corrupt 
Count  Fersen,  sly  Phillippi  and  greedy  Zubow  already 
dreamed  of  controlling  the  vast  fur-seal  herds  of 
the  Komandorski  and  Robben  Islands,  and  that  Phil 
lippi  was  to  watch  the  cunning  Yankee's  who  would  soon 
grasp  at  the  millions  of  dollars  in  glossy  pelts  swarming 
on  the  Prybiloffs!  But  his  brow  was  unclouded,  as  he 
watched  sweet  Madame  Alten  at  the  angle  of  the  walk 
with  Irma  at  her  side. 

"  Do  you  not  find  her  beautiful?"  suddenly  said  the 
Governor. 

"  She  is  a  wonderful  woman!  "  huskily  said  Orlof,  a 
red  spot  leaping,  in  tell-tale  crimson,  to  his  pale  cheek. 
He  did  not  know  that  the  magic  touch  of  Love  had 
made  him  as  a  young  Greek  God,  a  northern  Apollo, 
for  he  only  saw  that  Olga,  his  beloved,  was  fair  as 
Aphrodite  of  the  sea  foam!  To-day  she  was  exultingly 
radiant  in  her  glowing  beauty! 

' '  Strange  tJiat  I  have  never  fathomed  Jier  past  history," 
mused  Maxutoff,  forgetting  Orlof,  whose  heart  was 
beating  wildly. 

<;  Is  she, — is  Madame  Alten — under  restraint?"  slowly 
faltered  Orlof. 

"She, — that  graceful  woman, — is  a  mysterious  pris 
oner!"  replied  the  Governor.  "When  we  outfitted  at 
Sevastopol,  on  my  return  four  years  ago,  my  wife  was 
authorized  to  select  four  suitable  attendants,  for  our 
residence  here,  from  the  convicts  waiting  transportation 
to  Saghalin!" 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  123 

"  By  some  mystery  of  woman  freemasonry,  the  Com 
manding  General's  wife  knew  of  Madame  Alten,  who  was 
kept  there  in  solitary  confinement  by  a  Privy  Council 
order!" 

With  strange  and  superstitious  reverence,  the  name 
of  the  Czar  never  crossed  Maxutoff's  lips  in  his  converse 
with  Orlof. 

"At  any  rate,  at  my  wife's  request,  I  applied  for  her  I 
A  secret  report  was  made  in  the  case!  She  was  given 
over  to  me  as  a  personal  trust  of  the  Privy  Council,  '  for 
detention  as  a  prisoner  of  state!'  It  was  with  no  charges 
or  definite  sentence,  but  she  was  to  be  kept  detained 
under  my  own  eye,  subject  only  to  the  orders  of  the  Impe 
rial  Cabinet  Secretary!  The  confidential  statement  was 
made  to  me  that  she  was  not  an  objectionable  person, — 
and  that  my  sole  duty  was  to  prevent  her  escape,  and  to 
absolutely  cut  off  any  intercourse  with  strangers!  My 
wife  has  learned  to  love  her!  Our  child  adores  her! 
Without  her,  our  lonely  Arctic  life  here  would  have 
been  colorless.  As  nurse,  friend,  companion,  sister,  and 
woman,  my  wife  has  grown  to  lean  on  her! — And, 
strangest  of  all,  I  have  never  fathomed  her  past !  The 
continental  languages  she  speaks  with  equal  fluency, — 
she  is  cosmopolitan  in  belles-lettres, — and  the  purity 
of  her  character  is  as  chaste  as  the  opening  rose!  I 
have  thought  at  times,  that  my  wife  knew  more  than  I! 
Yet  emotion,  womanly  tears  in  this  sweet  nature,  I  have 
never  seen!  I  can  fancy  her  though,  in  superb  dress, 
covered  with  jewels,  that  wild,  exquisite  voice  ringing 
out,  a  queen  of  song!  What  has  been  her  past?" 

He  mused  in  silence,  gazing  at  Olga's  distant  flutter 
ing  robes.— 

"Why  Orlof,  she  would  grace  a  palace! — But,  we  must 
now  take  up  our  work!''  And  it  was  only  that  night,  in 


124  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

the  gloaming,  as  she  lay  in  his  arms,  that  Olga  Darine 
told  her  beloved,  how  faithfully  Beatrice  Maxutoff  had 
guarded  the  secret  of  years! 

Fedor  thanked  God  for  this  dream  of  love,  too  sweet 
to  last! 

He  was  buoyant  and  hopeful!  For  the  social  ameni 
ties  of  the  gentleman  eased  his  daily  life!  He  had 
missed  them  in  his  prison  life  more  than  even  his  lost 
fortunes!  True,  he  had  never  worn  irons,  his  intellectual 
labors  had  absolutely  prevented  that,  but  he  had  been 
roughly  herded  with  human  brutes!  Four  years  of  his 
youth  had  been  passed  in  a  dark  eclipse! — It  was  as  if  he 
looked  back  now  at  another  being,  — a  pale,  hopeless  shade, 
a  wandering  gfwst!  Even  in  these  four  weeks,  he  had 
burned  his  light  until  the  small  hours,  devouring  books, 
reviews,  reports,  old  journals  and  the  American  files  of 
journals  sent  up  by  the  Russian  Consul  or  traders,  as 
well  as  the  Journal  de  Petersburg! — He  was  thus  born 
again  into  a  new  life,  and  baptized  in  the  holy  chrism 
of  Olga  Darine's  kisses! 

" There  is  nothing  left,  but  to  die  together,  my  own,  my 
beloved!"  she  whispered,  "lam  yours  before  God  and 
men!  We  have  the  prisoner's  right  of  hiding  our  joys,  as 
well  as  drinking  the  bitter  cup  of  our  sorrows!" 

Orlof  forgot  now  his  four  long  years  spent  in  joyless 
prison  walls!  His  step  became  elastic,  his  eye  flashed 
with  a  new  fire,  for  Olga's  love  thrilled  every  fibre  of  his 
being! — He  was  gathering  in  the  arrears  due  him  by 
untoward  fate! 

Five  weeks  from  the  day  when  Zubow  sailed  away  on 
the  "  Reindeer,"  the  stout  dispatch  schooner  "  Baran- 
off "  lay  ready  under  the  guns  of  the  castle.  By  day, 
Maxutoff  and  his  secretary  toiled; — at  night,  while  the 
Prince  varied  his  routine  life  with  visits  to  his  superior 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  125 

officers,  garrisoning  the  other  wing,  Fedor  Orlof  was  the 
faithful  knight  of  two  gracious  women  who  loved  each 
other,  and  one  of  whom,  adored  him  in  secret!— 

The  battalion  of  troops  guarding  the  coast,  were 
officered  by  sturdy,  fighting  line  officers,  who  aspired 
not  to  cross  the  threshold  of  the  domain  where  Beatrice 
Maxutoff  reigned,  a  beloved  queen!  The  old  Bishop, 
with  his  clergy,  crooning  over  cards  and  wine,  enjoyed 
their  feasting  in  the  snug  house  of  the  ecclesiastics 
below,  adjoining  the  great  church!  They  had  their  own 
retinue, — their  guards,  —  and  their  easy  luxury  was 
quietly  winked  at! — It  was  only  on  l great  days'  that  the 
Castle  descended  to  the  Church, — for  a  chaplain  said  a 
daily  prayer  in  the  official  chapel  on  the  rock!  The  one 
element  of  present  danger  was  the  sudden  arrival  of 
some  one  of  the  Czar's  representatives  of  rank,  or  from 
the  gay  officers  of  the  war  ships,  superior  in  culture  to 
the  army  representatives!  But,  with  gentle  dignity, 
beyond  a  few  public  appearances,  when  the  great  Hall 
was  decked  for  a  ceremonial,  the  Lady  of  Sitka  was 
only  a  graceful  hidden  charm  to  the  dependents  of  her 
princely  husband!  So  it  was, — that  on  the  eve  of  his 
departure, — Fedor  Orlof's  heart  was  comforted  when 
the  Princess  whispered  kindly, 

11 1  will  guard  your  Olga!  She  shares  my  very  life! 
She  shall  be  sheltered  in  my  rank! — against  all  intru 
sion, — and  when  she  leaves  Sitka,  she  goes  with  me,  as  my 
sister!  If  I  should  die, — and  the  beautiful  mother's  voice 
faltered: 

"Olga!  you  alone  would  have  the  duty  of  keeping 
my  memory  green  in  Irma's  childish  heart!  Gregory 
has  pledged  this  on  his  unbroken  word!  " 

And  there  were  happy  tears  of  reverence  in  Orlof's 
eyes,  as  he  bent  in  gratitude  over  Beatrice  Maxutoff's 


126  tHE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

slender  hand.  At  sundown  on  the  next  day,  the  "Bar- 
anoff"  towed  by  a  tug,  was  ordered  to  leave  the  sound. 
— A  nominal  commander  had  received  the  Governor's 
orders,  but  Orlof  was  the  real  master  of  all  but  his  own 
personal  liberty! 

"I  think  that  my  plan  is  good!"  said  the  anxious 
Prince,  as  they  sat  alone  in  the  last  conference  at  the 
library  table  on  the  sunny  morning  of  the  departure.— 

"  You  have  yet  a  month  of  fine  weather,  and  my  par 
ties  of  fur  hunters,  secret  spies  and  government  agents 
will  be  dropped  off  in  pairs  to  winter  with  the  natives  of 
all  the  shore  villages  of  the  sly,  old  Shaman  Thorn! 
They  will  soon  find  out  the  sources  of  the  gold  supply, 
in  a  general  way!  During  the  long  winter,  the  suspicions 
of  the  blubber  eating  natives  will  relax! — I  have  even 
furnished  my  men  extra  rum  to  wherewith  loosen  their 
lips!  Rum  unlocks  every  tongue  from  the  palace  to  the 
hut!"  cynically  said  the  Prince. 

"Drink  is  the  national  vice  of  our  lower  orders, — the 
stain  on  many  of  our  bravest  and  best!'1''  Maxutoff  sighed. 
He  was  himself  a  man  of  refined  and  measured  tastes! 

"You  have  with  you  plenty  of  trading  goods!  Use 
them  liberally! — Now,  as  you  sail  with  several  canoes 
in  tow,  with  a  couple  of  native  crews,  and  your  general 
orders  for  any  assistance  to  my  scattered  sub-stations, 
you  can  carry  on  both  a  connected  island  examination 
and  shore  reconnoissance  ! — You  have  my  delegated 
power  to  use  funds  and  trading  goods  to  obtain  samples 
of  rock,  gravel,  earth,  and  varied  test  materials  and  send 
them  to  me  here!  Keep  your  own  counsel!  All  depends 
on  your  wisdom!  I  have  given  you  a  brave,  faithful, 
competent  sailor,  a  hardy  Lieutenant  who  has  worked 
his  way  up!  He  will  not  even  dream  of  the  object  of 
your  search!  Major  Orlof,  we  must  succeed!  Keep  an 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  127 

argus  eye  on  all  around  you! — The  secret  treaty  of 
cession  will  surely  be  closed  next  year!  Sixty-six  will 
see  the  signature,  and  Fersen  told  me  that  the  summer 
of  '67  would  see  me  relieved  of  my  trust  by  the  Amer 
icans! — I  must  get  this  land  title  to  the  gold  regions 
registered  and  approved  next  year, — then,  if  you  have 
found  the  exact  location  of  the  mine,  our  fortunes  are 
safe, — your  pardon  assured! — All  I  will  have  to  do,  is  to 
send  the  two  fur  cargoes  safely  home! — They  are  a  mil 
lion  dollars,  each,  in  gold  value! — I  will  then  settle  the 
accounts  of  the  Russian  Fur  Company,  going  back  to 
1799, — dismantle  the  posts,  and  the  Admiral  of  the 
Pacific  Fleet  will  finally  transport  my  garrison  home  or 
over  to  the  Amur! — My  last  official  act  will  be  to  haul 
down  the  Imperial  flag  on  Baranoff  Castle!  "- 

''What  becomes  of  the  poor  native  people?"  said 
Orlof,.with  a  real  concern. 

"Ah!  Rum  and  disease  will  soon  settle  that  prob 
lem!"  sadly  answered  Maxutoff.  —  "They  go  with  great 
Aliaska!, — soon  to  be  Alaska  under  the  Stars  and  Stripes! 
Alas!  They  are  doomed  !  " 

"  And  your  Russian  subjects?  "  said  the  convict  noble. 

"  They  can  elect  to  become  Americans,  or  will  if  they 
prefer,  be  sent  with  all  their  property,  home  to  Russia! 
Fixtures  will  be  paid  for  from  Government  funds, — 
movables  sent  home  free!  All  the  officers  and  higher 
officials  will  be  then  retired  and  double  pensioned  for 
life!" 

"  And  yourself?  "  said  Orlof,  with  a  quick  intuition  of 
the  grave  change  in  Olga  Darine's  future, — whom  the 
Prince  only  knew  as  the  lovely  "Madame  Alien!" 

"As  for  me., — the  will  of  God  and  the  Czar's  pleasure!" 
said  the  Governor,  devoutly  crossing  himself.  "Now 
to  business!  "  said  he  briskly,  "I  am  convinced  that  the 


128  THE     PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

cabinets  of  Europe  have  had  a  secret  knowledge  for 
many  years  of  the  existence  of  great  gold  deposits,  some 
where  near  the  southeastern  bend  of  Aliaska!  Look  at 
this  record  of  their  careful  shore  examinations.  Tchirikoff 
and  Delisle  de  la  Croyere,  in  1741, — Ayalu  and  Quadra, 
in  1775, — Captain  Cook,  in  1778, — La  Perouse,  in  1785, 
— Commodore  Billings,  in  1785-94, — Liziansky,  in  1805, 
—Von  Koltzebue,  in  1817, — Admiral  Beechey,  in  1826- 
27, — Wassielleff,  in  1832, — Admiral  Kellett,  in  1846, — 
Admiral  Collinson,  in  1850, — and  now,  in  1865,  this  bold 
Yankee,  Colonel  Bulkley,  also  pretends  to  be  pushing  a 
telegraph  line  around  by  Behring  Straits  to  Russia!  — 
What  hardihood !  "— 

"They  may  not  be  searching  for  gold,  after  all,  these 
Americans, — for  the  wild  dream  of  an  ocean  cable  to 
Europe  will  never  be  realized.' — Here  are  Jive  Russian, 
four  English,  one  French,  one  Spaniard  and  one  Ameri 
can  search  parties!  What  was  their  real  object?  Furs?  No! 
They  did  not  even  disturb  the  animals!  We  have  easily 
gleaned  fifty  million  dollars  in  furs,  unmolested,  since 
the  days  of  Alexieff,  Tchirikoff,  Bassoff,  Shelikoff  and 
Golodoff,  as  well  as  the  incarnate  fiend  Solovief !  No  one 
has  ever  yet  disputed  our  fur  trade!  Was  it  the  moving 
treasure  of  the  whales?  No!  For  it  was  only  in  1848, 
less  than  twenty  years  ago,  the  '  Superior  '  was  driven  into 
the  Arctic  Ocean  by  her  fearless  Yankee  captain!" 

His  voice  sank  into  a  whisper.  "No!  Orlof,  it  was 
gold,  gold  alone!  " • 

"Old  Shaman  Thorn  tells  me  that  his  famous  father 
handed  down  the  secret  of  the  mine  to  him,  —  and  that 
the  old  chief  said  the  white  men  in  the  '  big  canoes '  all 
sought  only  for  gold!  He  says  it  has  ever  been  so  in  his 
own  time, — up  to  the  sunset  of  his  life,  and  his  old  age! 
. — Now,  Orlof! — Some  one  once  did  know,  but  the  secret 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  I2Q 

has  been  lost! — The  charm  is  no  longer  potent !  Some  one 
has  made  promises  to  the  Indians  which  have  been 
broken!  The  wily  natives  have  then  concealed  in  revenge 
the  location  of  the  beds  where  nature's  treasures  peep 
through  the  meshes  of  the  worn  earth!  Find  me  but  the 
region!  I  will  get  an  Imperial  patent  to  cover  a  palati 
nate  in  extent!  Then  we  are  safe!  I  fear  the  impending 
change  of  rulers  and  my  sudden  recall! 

" 'Look  at  California!  Dreamy  and  idle,  it  lay  two  cen 
turies  under  Mexican  rule!  Only  the  wily  churchmen 
knew  of  the  golden  river  sands!  They  smothered  the  dis 
covery  for  two  generations,  hoping  that  His  Most  Chris 
tian  Majesty  of  Spain  would  regain  Alta  California!  But 
the  revolt  of  Hidalgo  ended  all!  By  accident,  an  hum 
ble  American  mechanic,  toiling  as  a  workman  for  a 
Swiss  Refugee  farmer, — found  the  precious  yellow  har 
vest!  The  whole  world  then  rushed  in  and  freely  helped 
itself!  In  ten  years  a  giant  state  sovereignty  sprang  into 
life, — San  Francisco  has  grown  to  be  a  princely  city  in 
less  than  twenty  years!"  What  built  up  its  homes  of 
luxury  on  its  many  hills? — Gold, — only  yellow  gold!  Now, 
in  the  Fraser  River,  in  British  Columbia,  our  British 
enemies  have  also  found  gold  in  abundance!  It  is  here  too! 
It  wras  known  to  exist  before  a  single  grain  was  gath 
ered  in  California  or  Vancouver!  You  must  unlock  the 
secret  of  these  rocky  caves, — the  mystery  of  the  lonely 
hills!  /  battle  for  my  wife  and  child's  fortune, — you  for 
life  and  liberty!  " — 

Maxutoff  ceased,  his  enthusiasm  had  carried  him 
away!  "  My  wife  wishes  to  show  you  some  last  courte 
sies!  I  have  no  doubt  you  would  also  wish  to  say  adieu 
to  Madame  Alien,  as  well  as  your  little  playmate, 
my  Inn  a!  I  will  go  on  board  with  you  at  sundown! 
The  old  Chief  Thorn  is  already  embarked, — and  he  has 


130  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 


my  secret  orders  in  view  of  rrrrr  /v^f/M-  reward  to  bring 
you  near  to  the  El  Dorado  we  seek!  Remember!  We 
fight  for;;/)'  fortune,  \our  life  and  liberty!"  - 


"And  for  /orr.'"  added  Fedor  Orlof,  silently  in  his 
heart  of  hearts,  as  he  grasped  his  princely  patron's  hand 
and  vowed  his  best  efforts  to  the  cause!  Not  a  disturb 
ing  shade  was  on  his  mind,  for  was  not  brutal  Zubow 
now,  a  thousand  miles  away  9  And,  in  his  absence,  the 
spirited  and  delicately  brave  Princess,  Olga's  sister  of 
the  heart,  was  ready  to  guard  the  beloved  woman, 
whose  arms  were  now  stretched  toward  him,  in  waiting 
for  the  parting! 

They  gathered  around  the  board  for  the  farewell 
breakfast!  It  was  only  after  an  hour's  bright  social  hap 
piness  that  the  Princess  claimed  the  escort  of  her  hus 
band! 

"  It  is  a  delightful  day!  "  she  said,  "  If  you  only  go  on 
board  at  nightfall,  let  us  take  the  chariot  and  drive  to 
Indian  Point!  —  Irma  needs  her  usual  excursion,  and  / 
wish  to  exchange  a  few  greetings  with  the  Bishop, 
Madame  Alten!  I  will  leave  you  to  tell  Major  Orlof  of 
our  excursion  to  Kodiak  last  year!  He  will  soon  coast 
along  the  same  romantic  shores  !"- 

When  the  lovers  were  alone,  they  blessed  the  gentle 
strategy  of  the  noble-hearted  Russian  Princess!  She 
wished  to  throw  the  mantle  of  perfect  security  around 
the  hopeless  lovers  in  their  farewell!  — 

For  Gregory  Maxutoff  dreamed  of  gold  alone,  only  of 
the  coveted  treasures  withheld  by  the  resentful  Indians, 
and,  yet  a  man  of  the  world,  he  might  have  read  the 
lesson  of  heaving  bosom,  of  moistened  eye,  or  broken 
voice!  As  yet,  the  Prince  Governor  General,  who  had 
been  years  absent  in  Central  Asia,  during  Olga  Darim-'s 
bright  career,  never  dreamed  that  the  vanished  darling 


PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  1$1 

of  the  Petersburg  opera,  was  his  wife's  strange  con 
fidant!  He  recked  not  of  the  unhappy  love  which,  in 
maddening  a  Czarevitch,  in  passion's  whirl, — had  led 
the  imprisoned  pair  under  the  convict  ban! — 

Hand  clasped  in  hand,  in  love's  sweet  dream,  or  with 
the  golden  head  on  his  bosom,  the  hours  fled  all  too 
swiftly,  while  Fedor  Orlof  felt  his  darling's  heart  beat 
against  his  own! — A  day  of  days! 

It  was  a  happiness  which  passed  all  human  hope, — all 
earthly  seeming!  The  flowing  together  of  two  souls  in 
the  consecration  of  a  love  for  this  life  and  beyond  the 
grave!  There  was  no  shadow  of  parting  on  their  happy 
hearts,  for  the  pine-clad  shores,  the  snowy  summits,  the 
lonely  glaciers, — and  the  still  island  gemmed  inlets  hid 
them,  mantled  with  the  friendly  blue  sea  waves,  from 
the  unforgiving  code  of  human  laws  and  the  trammels 

of  a  magnificent  tyrant! The  distance  of  their  exile 

was  their  safeguard! — 

They  lived  in  love, —  for  love  alone,  forgetting  a  once 
familiar  world  which  }\^  forgotten  them! 

—When  the  sun  sank  to  the  west,  Fedor  Orlof  left  the 
castle  of  Baranoff  in  his  gray  prison  coat,  with  the  black 
convict  patch!  True,  it  was  concealed  by  a  fur  great 
coat,  for  the  sea  breeze  was  chill;  but  a  brace  of  armed 
sentinels  marched  at  his  side,  and  also  an  orderly  officer. 

His  heart  was  free, — but  he  was  still  the  Czar's  bond 
man  of  shame!  He  suffered  not,  as  he  threaded  the 
mongrel  village  crowd,  for  Maxutoff  had  whispered,  as 
he  pressed  his  hand  before  leaving  the  mansion,  "  I 
only  make  this  public  parade  of  your  condition,  for  I 
know  the  Bishop  and  his  lazy  clergy  can  easily  make 
secret  reports  on  me  to  the  great  Metropolitan  of  Russia! 
And  that  great  dignitary,  the  working  head  of  the 
Greek  Church,  is  the  only  man  in  the  world  before  whom 


132  THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA. 

the  wearer  of  Russia's  imperial  diadem  trembles! 
Besides, — Orlof,  I  know  not  what  other  spy,  Count 
Fersen  has  left  here! — I  fear  also  that  beetle-browed 
Tartar,  Prince  Zubow! — His  smug  friend,  Anton  Phil- 
lippi,  too,  is  as  much  at  home  in  Washington,  as  in  /,<//- 
don, — in  Paris,  as  at  Yokohama, — in  Berlin  or  }rienna,  as 
at  St.  Petersburg!  He  has  the  invincible  capital  of  the 
Rothschilds  behind  him!" 

''Why,"  said  Orlof,  who,  though  used  to  Russian 
dissimulation,  was  startled!  "  Because  they  already 
have  their  eyes  on  the  fur  trade  of  the  world  !  A  great 
high  junta  of  Israelite  capitalists,  dominate  the  Bourses  of 
the  whole  world!  Your  cool,  educated,  patient,  passion 
less  Hebrew,  avoiding  racking  toil,  shunning  the  burdens 
of  citizenship,  trading,  not  manufacturing,  —  loaning,  not 
risking,  is  the  high  priest  of  the  world's  reigning  deity, 
—  Cold! — Slaves  to  tyrants,  victors  in  the  mart!  " 

Orlof  was  tranquil  at  heart,  for  his  adieu  to  the  queen 
of  his  heart  had  been  carefully  shielded  by  graceful 
Beatrice  Maxutoff. — She  had  led  her  pretty  child  away, 
while  'Madame  Alien'  was,  all  in  all,  her  real  self, — 
Ike  loving  Olga  Da  rind 

In  the  boudoir  of  the  Princess, — Orlof  gazed  into  the 
wonderful  eyes  for  the  last  time,  and  strained  the  loving 
woman  to  his  heart!  "  Go  nou<,  my  beloved, — while  I  am 
yet  brave!  You  bear  my  heart  in  ycur  bosom!  " 

With  a  wonderful  intuition,  she  kissed  his  lips  in  an 
adieu  which  silenced  his  protest,  and  resolutely  took  her 
place  at  the  window,  with  the  merry  Princess  of  Alaska 
at  her  side,  to  see  his  white  sails  lost  behind  the  islands 
dimpling  the  beautiful  bay!  The  "  Baranoff  "  bravely 
faced  the  rolling  seas! — 

There  was  no  formal  adieu  whm  Prince  Maxutoff  bade 
the  powerful  tug  move  the  schooner  out!  But,  he  called 


THE    PRINCESS    01'   ALASKA.  133 

up  the  noble  convict,  before  the  lines  were  cast  off  at 
the  entrance  of  the  channel,  and,  in  a  few  last  words, 
told  Fedor  of  the  absolute  confidence  of  his  secret  part 
ner.  Orlof  saw  the  Prince  transferred  at  last,  to  the 
tug,  and  his  eye  rested  fondly  on  the  distant  gallery 
where  a  gleaming  white  signal  shone  like  silver,  in  the 
afternoon  sun! 

//  was  OlgcCs  adieu, — the  last  message  of  love! — Fedor 
lost  the  token  from  view  at  last,  as  the  stout  schooner 
stood  out,  over  the  dashing  crisp  surge  to  the  mystic 
haunts  of  the  Kalushes! — Free  now  in  every  respect,  he 
thought  of  his  four  horrible  Siberian  years,  of  the  pris 
oners  flogged  to  death,  closing  their  eyes  in  the  mad 
ecstasy  of  pain,  of  the  "  green  lane  "  of  the  regimental 
running  the  gauntlet,  where  the  fresh  cut  sticks  beat 
down  the  dying  victim, — of  the  cold,  starvation  and  hor 
rid  silence  of  the  salt  mines, — where  squads  of  groaning 
wretches  toiled  in  chains, — of  the  days'when,  in  hospi 
tal,  he  had  seen  the  irons  struck  off  the  senseless  clay, 
and  he  realized  the  blessings  of  the  fate  now  his  own!— 
The  bliss  of  the  re-union  thrilled  him,  and  he  knew  in 
Baranoff  Castle  that  his  promised  Olga  was  safe!  But 
as  he  blessed  her  gentle  protectress  in  his  heart, — and 
swore  to  be  true  to  Maxutoff's  quejt, — his  eye  fell  again 
on  his  glittering  turquoise  ring!  He  shuddered,  as  he 
left  the  deck,  —  for  it  was  that  hand  \v\\ich  made  innocent 
Vera  Orlof  an  orphan! — It  was  an  ominous  presage! — 

"I  pray  God  in  His  Infinite  Mercy  that  the  curse  of 
this  innocent  blood  may  not  follow  me!  Vera!  My 
orphaned  cousin!  If  I  could  bring  back  your  noble  father, 
I  would  even  bow  my  head  to  the  stroke!"  For  the 
fatherless  girl's  face  rose  before  him,  as  the  gray  fog 
whirled  and  drifted  down  upon  them,  and  the  night 


134  Tl!1      MMNCfcSS     'i|      ALASKA. 

winds  seemed  to  breath  an  ominous  burden,  " 
is  mine.1'"  saith  the  Lord,  "  I  will  repa\!  "- 

— The  burden  of  Love  lay  heavily  upon  Olga  Darine 
for  the  long  month  before  the  first  tidings  of  the  Baran- 
off's  cruise  reached  the  village  of  Sitka!  The  snows 
were  now  creeping  downward  on  Mount  Edgecunibc', 
and  the  garrison  was  busied  in  preparing  for  the  long 
winter. 

Huge  mountains  of  wood  gathered  on  the  rocky  pla 
teau,— the  barricading  of  the  great  storehouses  and  the 
erection  of  moss-stuffed  huts  for  the  sentries  told  of  the 
long  winter's  advent. 

The  last  American  whaler  had  touched  and  flitted 
southward  for  the  year,  and  a  passing  Russian  cruiser, 
joining  the  San  Francisco  squadron,  brought  the  year's 
final  dispatches  for  Prince  Maxutoff. — 

In  the  little  family  circle,  he  had  noted  the  pale  cheeks 
of  the  woman  he  only  knew  as  Madame  Alten!— 

"Beatrice!"  he  said  with  alarm,  "can  it  be  that  our 
friend  is  failing,  under  the  fogs  and  depression  of  this 
gloomy  station!  To  think  that  you  might  be  left  here 
alone,  deprived  of  womanly  cheer  and  aid,  that  our  child 
may  lose  her  gentle  governess,  would  tempt  me  to  send 
her  south,  even  if  I  answered  to  the  Czar,  for  the  deed! 
I  am  not  willing  to  see  her  sacn'Jict'J.'"1- 

— "  You  forget,  Gregory,  that  we  have  our  c/iiM,  our 
love,  our  future, — that  we  are  sustained  by  hope,  and 
that  the  current  of  our  lives  has  mingled  in  a  union 
which  sustains!  I  am  hopeful  that  my  heart  has  fath 
omed  the  secret!  It  is  only  the  blank  loneliness  of  her 
life,  the  mental  torture  of  her  termless  captivity,  the 
fretting  of  a  prom!  soul  born  for  freedom!  "• 

And  while  Prince  Maxutoff  showered  every  mark  of 
kind  consideration  on  his  beautiful  prisoner, — the  Prin- 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  135 

cess  alone  knew  that  the  smiles  now  fled,  would  return, 
with  the  roses  on  her  pale  cheeks,  only  when  Fedor  Orlof's 
mission  was  at  an  end!— 

The  arrival  of  a  great  canoe,  manned  by  twenty 
natives,  and  flying  the  Russian  naval  flag,  caused  Prince 
Maxutoff  to  bound  from  his  chair  in  excitement,  when 
the  officer  of  the  guard  reported  the  strange  occurrence 
a  week  later: 

"News!  News!"  he  cried,  rushing  to  his  wife's 
boudoir.  "In  an  hour,  we  will  know  of  the  Baranoff's 
movements,  for  I  ordered  this  dispatch  canoe  to  be  sent 
coasting  homeward!  But  the  incoming  ship,  I  can  not 
make  her  out!  " — 

"  What  foreign  vessel  comes  here  so  late!  And  a  sail 
ing  merchantman,  bearing  the  Russian  flag,  is  also  out 
side!  It  is  most  unusual!  " — 

An  hour  later,  a  sturdy  Russian  sailor  delivered  into 
the  Prince's  own  hand  a  sealed  dispatch.  In  Princess 
Beatrice's  room,  her  hands  clasped  on  her  bosom, 
Madame  Alten  paced  the  floor  in  wild  unrest,  while  the 
Governor  General  tore  open  the  envelope  and  eagerly 
questioned  the  sailor. — The  Prince's  face  was  beaming 
when  he  strode  in  from  the  library!  He  whispered  a 
few  words  to  his  wife  and  then  turned  to  the  pale-faced 
governess,  who  was  busied  with  Irma's  merry  pranks! 

"The  '  Baranoff '  will  return  in  a  fortnight,  and  the 
exploration  for  the  season  is  over!  Major  Orlof  will 
soon  make  up  our  fourth  hand  at  whist!  " 

At  a  sign  from  his  watchful  wife,  Maxutoff  left  the 
room,  for  Olga  Darine  lay,  pillowed  in  her  chair,  in  a 
senseless  swoon! 

"  She  certainly  is  failing!  What  a  barbarity,  I  must 
send  her  home!  " — mused  Maxutoff,  as  he  awaited  the 
Captain  of  the  Post,  now  announced. 


136  THK    PRINCESS    OF    A!  \SKA. 

"Olga!  My  dear  om  !  "  cried  Princess  Beatrice,  who 
was  chafing  her  friend's  hand!  He  l>ra~-e.'  Your  noble 
lover  will  yet  earn  his  freedom-  Your  mysterious  deten 
tion,  too,  will  have  its  end!  I  may  lead  you  home,  back 
to  Russia,  to  a  life  of  renewed  happiness!  What  do  you 
fear?" 

"  Nothing,  darling  Beatrice!  My  good  angel!  Noth 
ing  when  near  you!  But  a  presentiment  hangs  over  my 
heavy  heart,  of  some  danger  to  Fed^r!  When  you  know 
his  noble  character,  you  will  see  that  his  love  for  me 
alone  blinded  him!  " 

"But  you  are  hidden  safely  together  now!  One  happy 
winter  is  assured  to  you!  And  we  must  look  forward  and. 
trust  in  God  I"  said  Beatrice.— 

It  was  the  Arctic  evening  now,  and  the  mysterious 
fires  were  darting  in  fitful  flashes  from  the  distant  hori 
zon,  which  hid  her  lover! 

''Can  the  Rose  of  Love  bloom  under  these  Northern 
Lights?" — sadly  murmured  Olga,  as  her  eyes  sought  the 
window  from  which  she  watched  daily  for  her  absent 
lover.  "See!  a  ship,  and  under  Russian  eolors,  too!" 

Gregory  Maxutoff  burst  into  the  room  in  an  unwonted 
excitement!  "Beatrice!  There  is  some  foul  scheme  in 
view!  The  semaphore  says  Serge  Zubow  is  back  here 
on  his  newly  purchased  vessel, — the  '  Nevsky!  ' — My  dis 
patches  say  that  he  has  been  made  Vice- Governor  of 
Khttmschatk&i  and  coadjutor  of  Count  Ferscn.'  That  gives 
the  brute  power  over  me.'" 

—The  Princess  sprang  to  her  feet,  and  silently  pointed 
at  the  sorrowing  woman  at  the  window!  //  was  too  late! 
As  Maxutoff  withdrew,  ashamed  of  his  precipitate  dis 
closure,  Olga  Darine  seized  the  delicate  hands  of  her 
noble  protectress!  Beatrice  saw  before  her,  a  shudder 
ing  suppliant  on  her  knees, — a  woman  with  the  face  of 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  137 

an  angel,  and  the  voice  of  despair,  as  she  cried,  "  //  is 
he!  TJiat  Tartar  fiend!  My  God!  He  has  power  now! 
Oh!  I  fear  him!'1'  Too  well  the  agitated  singer  knew 
that  in  some  way,  Zubow  had  pierced  the  mystery  of  her 
guarded  past!  She  knew  the  insolent  menace  of  his 
eyes!  And  Fedor,  the  helpless  prisoner!  Would  he, 
too,  fall  under  the  new  official's  iron  tyranny? 

"Listen!"  said  the  Princess,  raising  her  friend  and 
clasping  her  in  her  loving  arms,  "I  will  insist  that 
Zubow  shall  now  make  his  home  with  the  Bishop!  We 
will  then  have  peace,  and  you  and  I  can  defy  him! " 

"But,  Fedor?"  faltered  Olga,  "Gregory  will  shield 
him  to  the  very  last.  Trust  me!  With  two  women 
watching  him,  Zubow  must  be  a  Machiavel  to  outwit  us!  " 

The  Princess  was  confident.  And  yet,  there  was  a 
malicious  smile  of  triumph  as  Prince  Serge  Zubow 
announced  next  day  that  he  would  winter  at  Sitka!  It 
brought  a  chill  to  Olga's  heart!— 

The  next  two  weeks  crawled  away.  There  were  anx 
ious  faces  around  the  Prince's  board.  Little  Irma  cried 
for  the  tall  officer  who  had  won  her  childish  heart  by 
ingenious  puzzles,  by  trick  and  drawing,  by  paper  toys 
of  fantastic  design.  The  stout  burghers  of  Rotterdam 
did  not  await  the  return  of  their  Pioneer  forlorn  hope 
vessel,  the  "Golden  Hind,"  from  far  Xipangu,  in  1588, 
with  the  news  throwing  open  a  new  world  to  trade,  as 
eagerly  as  Maxutoff  awaited  Fedor. 

"I  wish  he  were  safely  back!  This  brute  Zubow  may 
take  him  out  of  my  hands!  It  will  all  depend  on  the 
date  of  Zubow 's  commission!  Am  I  to  be  robbed  of  the 
glory  of  my  final  administration?  Is  there  some  hidden 
scheme  ?  " 

Easy-going  Maxutoff  was  at  last  alarmed!  For,  beyond 
visits  far  too  frequent,  of  social  courtesy,  Serge  Zubow, 


138  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

now  luxuriously  installed  at  the  Bishop's,  was  mute. — 
His  ready  gold  and  luxurious  private  supplies  made  the 
lazy  clergy  his  tools. 

"Strange,"  mused  Prince  Gregory,  "in  the  whole 
Siberian  administration,  the  prisoner  finds  his  only  real 
friend  in  the  Doctor!  Ministers  of  pafh,  they  soothe  the 
sorrowing,  ease  the  burden,  cheer  the  dying,  and  in 
every  way  lighten  the  lot  of  the  hopeless  condemned!  It 
is  the  testimony  of  fifty  years!  While  the  f/crgy,  in 
cards,  wine  and  feasting,  seem  to  ignore  the  groans  of 
the  dying  whose  irons  are  struck  off  by  the  hand  of  the 
guards,  only  when  the  prisoned  spirit  has  flown!  .  I  fear 
this  corrupted  clergy?* 

Maxutoff  dared  not  confess  all  his  fears  to  his  wife, 
who  shared  a  secret  sorrow  with  Madame  Alten,  whom 
the  princely  insolent  lover  knew  now  as  Olga,  the  peer 
less  Olga  Darine!  Alas!  Anton  Phillippi,  at  San  Fran 
cisco,  on  his  way  to  distant  centres  of  a  yet  unhatched 
conspiracy,  had  gleaned  from  the  newly  arrived  Russian 
Consul  and  from  the  gay  officers  of  the  fleet,  the  full 
story  of  lovely  Olga's  past!  But  one  thing  was  hidden 
from  the  now  daily  importunate  Lothario,  —  it  was  the 
secret  reason  of  her  internment!  The  princely  hands 
stretched  toward  her  from  the  throne  might  even  have 
stayed  him,  in  his  dark  wiles!  But,  Olga  was  sadly  alone 
and  helpless! — 

Refitting  his  ship  at  Victoria,  in  the  domains  of  the 
hostile  Queen  of  England,  Zubow  was  safe  from  all  offi 
cial  Russian  supervision!  A  winter  leave  of  absence 
gave  him  the  services  of  Alexander  McMann  as  second 
in  command  of  the  "Nevsky. " 

"lean  easily  join  the  '  Reindeer '  in  the  spring  at 
Kodiak,"  said  the  adventurer. 

Zubow  mused: 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  I^L) 

"And  I  am  now  ready  for  action!  I  have  a  man  who 
knows  every  inlet  of  the  North  Pacific!  At  Kodiak, 
Pierre  Lefranc  is  under  my  secret  orders!  Phillippi, 
too,  is  well  on  his  way  to  Europe!  I  will  have  the  first 
news  in  the  spring,  from  him  by  cipher  telegram  from 
New  York  to  San  Francisco,  and  our  confederate,  the 
Consul  there,  will  send  a  dispatch  boat  on  from  Victoria. 
I  can  antedate  the  Czar's  dispatches  two  months,  for  I, 
thanks  to  the  magic  of  gold,  have  my  private  news  'as 
soon  as  the  ink  dries  on  the  memoranda  of  the  Privy 
Council!  Ha,  ha!"  chuckled  Zubow,  "It  is  as  easy  to 
buy  an  Excellency  as  to  bribe  a  sentinel!  One  wants  easy 
gotten  gold,  the  other  is  satisfied  with  a.  flood  of  whiskey! 
I  can  now  overcome  or  checkmate  this  placid,  unsus 
pecting  fool,  Maxtitoff  at  will!  Wait!  wait!  till  that 
high-bred  scoundrel  who  defied  me  returns!  I  will  order 
him  on  the  'Nevsky'  to  make  charts  and  map  copies!  I 
shall  see  him  triced  up  and  his  back  bleeding  under  the 
lash!  He  shall  remember  the  name  of  Zubow  as  long  as 
the  welts  and  scars  quiver  under  the  Arctic  chill  !"- 

"  Place  aux  dames!"  murmured  Serge  Zubow,  dream 
ing  alone,  as  his  black  eyes  flamed  with  a  tiger's  feroc 
ity!  He  leaned  back  in  his  fur-padded  easy  chair  by  the 
birchen  blaze,  and  drank  a  huge  glass  of  fragrant  Cham- 
bertin. 

"  Let  me  see! — Petropavlosk,  Kodiak  and  Sitka  are 
all  open  ports  in  winter!  A  hidden  Prima  Donna!  She 
shall  sing  in  private  for  Serge  Zubow,  Vice-General  of 
the  Pacific  Siberian  Realm!  I  wonder  if  Maxutoff  sus 
pects  my  hidden  league  with  Fersen!  I  fear  him  not! 
But  that  lynx-eyed  Griselda,  his  wife, — /  must  outwit 
her!" — 

Olga  Darine,  returning  alone  from  the  great  church, 
was  suddenly  met  on  the  long  ascent  of  stairs  by  Serge 


I4O  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

Zubow,  as  a  gloomy  day  showed  her  in  its  evening  fiery 
glow, — no  silver  sail  entering  the  Sitka  Sound!  For  the 
"  Baranoff "  still  lingt-n-d  at  sea!  They  were  alone,  and 
the  beautiful  prisoner  shuddered  as  she  felt  his  breath 
hot  upon  her  check!  The  rock's  perpendicular  sheer  des 
cent  was  only  separated  by  the  low  cedar  hand  rail. 
Vodki  drinking  had  emboldened  the  brute,  returning 
from  an  artful  conference  with  the  now  anxious  Maxutoff ! 

"  If  he  means  mischief,  why  does  he  not  show  his 
hand?"  mused  Prince  Gregory. 

But  Olga,  whose  prayers  for  Fedor  Orlof's  return  lin 
gered  in  her  heart,  knew  that  the  tiger  waited  for  the 
helpless  prey!  It  was  Fedor  he  would  first  strike!  And 
then — then — 

"  Oh!  God!"  she  screamed  as  Zubow  seized  her  arm, 
"One  step  further  and  /  will  throw  myself  from  the 
rock!  Coward!" 

The  panting  man  loosened  his  hold  on  her  rounded 
arm,  which  bore  the  purpled  marks  of  the  brute's  rough 
grip  ! 

"You  defy  me!"  Zubow  firmly  said,  "your  wings  are 
clipped,  but  I  can  see  the  song  bird '  s  feathers!  I  know 
you,  —  Olga,  the  peerless!  When  I  have  thrown  your  con 
vict  lover  to  the  fishes,  you  shall  be  taught  to  sing  for 
me!  Yes;  my  pretty  dissembler!  You  alone,  can  save 
}\\m  from  tlie  lash!" 

His  scream,  his  angry  threat  was  lost  in  the  wild  wail 
ing  wind!  Hewas  ;/<>?<:'  alone,  for  Olga  Darine,  with  the 
1  of  a  hunted  doe,  was  already  safe  above  him,  scaling 
the  height. 

That  night,  the  tenderness  of  even  Beatrice  Maxutoff's 
love  could  not  cheer  the  woman,  who,  in  an  agony  of 
sorrow,  cursed  her  twin  dower  of  beauty  and  of  song! 
The  doom  was  upon  her! 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  14! 

When  the  moon  broke  out  in  a  silver  flood,  the  stout 
Baranoff  stood  in,  wing  and  wing,  through  the  snow-cov 
ered  islands,  now  gleaming  like  a  fairy  world  in  silver! 
Little  sleep  had  visited  Gregory  Maxutoff 's  eyes !  He  knew 
at  last  the  whole  story  of  '  Madame  Alten,' — now  to  him 
Olga  Darine!  At  daybreak  he  summoned  the  Captain 
of  the  Guard,  and  the  drowsy  sentinels  on  the  beach 
were  astonished  to  see  the  Governor's  own  barge  speed 
ing  away  to  the  "Baranoff."  In  the  morning's  cold 
gray  dawn,  Olga  Darine  felt  two  k>ving  woman  arms 
around  her  neck!  A  sweet  voice  whispered,  "  Have  you 
slep^  darling?  "  and,  a  white  faced  wraith  of  herself,  the 
singer  faltered, 

"No!" 

"  2 hen,  wake  to  happiness!  For  Gregory  has  promised 
me  that  he  will  guard  you  from  this  fiend!  As  for  Fedor 
Orlof,  he  is  safe  here  now  under  the  Imperial  flag!  The 
"Baranoff"  is  in!  I  have  begged  Gregory  to  send  his 
own  barge  for  Major  Orlof.  See,  there  it  goes!  " 

Springing  from  her  couch,  Olga  caught  up  her  gown 
of  soft  priceless  white  ermine.  On  her  knees,  by  the 
window,  she  watched  the  boat  gliding  swiftly  to  the 
schooner. 

"  Be  comforted,  my  dear  one!  cried  the  Princess, 
for  Olga  trembled  like  a  leaf  in  the  storm. 

"Home  again,  in  happy  Russia,  we  will  forget  these 
sad  days  together!  " 

The  beauty, — Madame  Alten  no  more, — darted  a  pas 
sionate  glance  at  her  gentle  friend, — : 

"Happy  Russia!  Happy  Russia!  I  hear  that  phrase 
for  theyfr-j/  time  in  my  life! — Wherever  the  Russian  flag 
floats,  the  bread  of  bitterness,  the  cup  of  sorrow,  goes 
as  the  badge  of  its  heart  slavery!  Beatrice!  "  said  Olga, 
her  voice  thrilling  the  tender-hearted  listener,  *<  If  God 


142  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

ever  delivers  me  from  this  desolation,  my  foot  will  never 
tread  on  Russian  soil  again!     /  swear  if  by  my  mother's 


"  I  would  not  lose  you  from  my  heart!"  fondly  cried 
Beatrice,  —  "See,  there  comes  the  boat!  Dress  now 
quickly!  It  may  be  in  Switzerland,  in  Germany,  in 
Italy,  in  Austria,  or  in  sunny  France,  we  may  make  a 
happy  little  circle!  For  Irma  loses  her  heart,  her  soul, 
when  she  loses  you!  Promise  me  one  thing!'"  anxiously 
whispered  Beatrice. 

"And  that  is,  ---  ?"  earnestly  queried  Olga. 

"If  I  should  be  taken  away,  —  should  you  be  near,  — 
you  will  be  a  mother  to  Irma!"  Olga  gazed  in  astonish 
ment  at  the  Princess. 

"If  God  spares  me,  I  will  be  to  her  what  you  would 
wish,  should  that  dear  child  need  my  guidance!  But 
what  could  a  woman  convict  do  for  the  Emperor's  pro- 
tege"e,  the  first  Princess  of  Alaska?"  -- 

—  While  the  two  women  sat  in  an  interchange  of 
thoughts  welling  from  their  secret  hearts,  the  doors 
opened,  and  Fedor  Orlof  was  escorted  into  the  cabinet 
of  the  Governor  General.  It  was  kindly  Princess  Beat 
rice  who  met  him,  with  a  meaning  smile  on  her  face.  — 
"  Gregory  \v\\\  see  you  at  ten  o'clock!  He  will  be  busied 
till  then!  Your  breakfast  will  be  served  here!  "  the  bright- 
eyed  lady  said,  as  she  clasped  his  hands,  and  the  two 
guards  stalked  away. 

"Wait  here!  —  this  is  your  own  room,  —  ////  ten!  I  have 
ordered  the  captain  of  the  guard  to  admit  no  one,  until 
General  Maxutoff  so  orders!  " 

The  lovely  Princess  Maxutoff  fled  unseen,  a  bright 
blush  on  her  delicate  cheek,  for  the  door  opened,  and 
Olga  was  clasped  in  the  arms  of  her  anxious  lover  1 

There  are  silences  too  deep  for  the  power  of  speech, 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  143 

too  sweet  to  be  broken  by  aught  but  the  breathings  of 
the  beloved,  breast  to  breast,  in  rapture!  The  minutes 
flew  unheeded,  until  at  last,  Olga  Darine,  in  womanly 
fear,  told  the  story  of  the  past  weeks  of  trial!  She  could 
not  conceal  Zubow's  open  passion,  his  secret  pursuit, 
his  insane  threats: — and  while  the  veins  on  his  temples 
knotted  like  whipcords,  Fedor  Orlof  forced  a  seeming 
calmness! 

"Our  trust  is  in  these  noble  friends!  As  for  me,  as 
God  wills!  For  you,  my  darling. " 

Her  sweet  voice  quivering  in  the  earnestness  of  a  true 
woman's  faith,  answered  him:  "Death  before  Dishonor!" 

They  were  startled  as,  after  a  pretense  of  touching 
the  repast  provided,  the  door  from  Princess  Beatrice's 
boudoir  was  flung  aside  and  the  Princess  hastily 
entered! — 

"Quick,  quick!"  she  said,  "Both  of  you, — in  here! 
Prince  Zubow  and  the  Bishop  demand  an  Instant  audi 
ence  with  Gregory!  I  go  to  him!  I  fear,  /  know  not 
what!  Both  of  you  must  listen  here,  behind  that  cur 
tain,  with  the  door  partly  drawn.  They  cannot  see! 
You  are  our  witnesses!  I  will  watch  at  the  other  door!  " 

The  lovers  were  startled,  for  the  happy  hours  had  fled 
away  uncounted.  And,  in  Olga  Darine's  heaving  bosom, 
a  deadly  fear  froze  the  warm  blood  in  the  heart  where 
but  one  image  was  enthroned! — Fedor 'j, — the  man  who 
had  suffered  to  shield  her!  From  the  window  they 
could  see  St.  Michael's  Church,  its  Greek  cross  in  form 
speaking  of  the  Blessed  One  who  died  for  man,  and  its 
silvery  bells  sounded  sweetly  on  the  frosty  air!  But  the 
old  Archimandrite,  in  furred  gown,  cap  and  a  huge 
golden  pectoral  chain  and  medal  flashing  with  diamonds, 
was  as  crafty  as  Caiphas,  as  he  plotted  with  Serge  Zu 
bow  at  the  Prince's  table!  The  hidden  lovers  could  see 


144  THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA. 

the  merciless  scowl  on  Serge  Znbow's  face  as,  in  a  con 
fident  repose,  he  watched  for  the  Governor  General.— 

"Your  Highness!  A/if  Bishop!"  cried  Prince  Maxu- 
toff,  as  he  entered  in  ceremonial  dress.  "  To  what  do  I 
owe  the  honor  of  this  joint  and  urgent  visit?  " 

Orlof  and  Olga  noticed,  with  astonishment,  as  Serge 
Zubow  rose  and  threw  off  his  light  sea-otter  cloak,  that 
he  was  in/////  court  regalia!  In  a  cold,  harsh  voice,  the 
Tartar  said: 

"I  have  brought  the  head  of  His  Imperial  Majesty's 
Church  here  to  see  me  read  the  commission  which  I 
desire  you  to  enter,  on  your  secret  record,  as  my  warrant 
of  official  action  in  these  Seas!" 

Prince  Maxutoff,  writh  face  as  pale  as  marble,  listened, 
both  standing,  while  the  Czar's  pleasure  was  made 
known; — only  the  old  Bishop  remained  seated, — and 
dallied  with  his  resplendent  badge  of  rank. — Orlof 
breathed  more  freely  as  Zubow  concluded. — It  was 
dated  a  year  past,  and  gave  him  the  royal  authority  as 
Vice-Governor  of  Khamsehatka! 

"  It  will  be  so  inscribed,  Your  Highness!"  calmly  said 
Maxutoff,  and  I  will  make  the  entries  with  my  own  hand! 
Will  you  entrust  it  to  me  for  that  purpose?" 

"  Certainly!"  said  Zubow,  in  a  cold,  triumphant  voice, 
as  I  propose  to  act  under  it  forthwith!"  Orlof 's  and 
Olga's  eyes  met,  in  a  terrified  silence!  A  sigh  reached 
them  from  the  Princess,  seated  at  the  door  by  which 
Maxutoff  had  entered  to  meet  his  secret  foes! — 

"  I  may  sail  within  a  week,  to  Kodiak,  or  Petropavlosk, 
to  winter,  or  perhaps  return!  "  began  Zubow  ominously, 
"I  desire  the  services  on  board  my  ship  '  Nevsky '  of 
the  Siberian  transferred  convict  No.  24190!  " 

Orlof's  strong  arm  alone  kept  the  beautiful  siuger 
from  falling! 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  145 

"For  what  purpose,  Prince?"  politely  queried  the 
Governor  General,  who  was  toying  with  a  Japanese 
dagger. 

' 'To  aid  me  in  navigation,  mapping  and  preparing 
reports  of  a  secret  nature!  " 

Fedor  Orlof  started  as  the  Siberian  tyrant  answered, 
in  a  meaning  tone. 

"Is  there  anything  else  you  ask  under  this  extra 
ordinary  commission? "  politely  rejoined  the  Governor 
General,  "I  must  have,  a  minute  in  your  own  hand,  to 
warrant  such  a  transfer!  "— 

Olga's  trembling  fingers  clutched  Orlof's  arm,  as  he 
eyed  the  keen  toy  dagger  in  Maxutoff's  hand.  He 
trembled  like  a  racer  at  the  post. 

"Stay!  Yes, — there  is!"  cried  Zubow,  with  now  un 
concealed  insolence.  "  I  wish  the  guard  to  escort  the 
woman  prisoner,  known  as  'Madame  Alten,'  to  the 
Church  of  St.  Michael's  where  the  Bishop  will  assign 
her  to  duty,  suited  to  a  woman  convict,  in  the  infirmary 
as  nurse  and  seamstress!" 

There  was  a  silence  broken  only  by  a  stir,  as  the 
sound  of  a  gentle  struggle  behind  the  curtains  proved 
that  Olga  Darine'swill  alone  kept  Orlof  from  the  room, 
for  Maxutoff's  sabre  was  clutched  in  the  desperate 
prisoner's  hand! —  "For  my  sake,  wait  until  the  last!1'- 
she  had  whispered. 

"I  regret  that  I  cannot  grant  either  of  your  requests, 
Prince!"  said  Gregory  Maxutoff,  who  had  sprung  to  his 
feet,  his  slight  frame  trembling  with  excitement. 

"See  if  you  cannot  find  a  warrant  there!"  cried  Serge 
Zubow,  with  a  loud  mocking  laugh,  throwing  down  a 
sealed  envelope.  //  was  the  supreme  moment! 

"  Read  it,  General,  to  the  Bishop!  He  is  my  witness!" 
The  Tartar's  voice  rang  out  in  victory! 


146  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALAStCA. 

In  firm  tones,  Prince  Maxutoff  read  a  second  docu 
ment,  dated  at  Petropavlosk,  two  months  after  his  depart- 
-ire  from  Sitka,  signed  by  the  all-powerful  Count  Fersen, 
Imperially  Delegated  Inspector,  giving  to  Prince  Serge 
^ubow  his  full  proxy  in  Aliaska,  as  well  as  Khamschatka! 
—It  was  an  infamous  treason  to  the  man  he  professed  to 
respect!— 

"You  dare  not  disobey  that?"  yelled  Serge  Zubow, 
as  he  faced  the  still  coldly  polite  Governor  General. 
11  When  will  you  deliver  me  these  two  convicts?" 

OlgaDarine  sank  helpless  in  Orlof's  arms,  as  the  aris 
tocratically  unmoved  Prince  Maxutoff  returned  the  let 
ter,  saying  sternly:  "Never!  Your  orders  are  mon 
strous!" 

"  Do  you  dare  to  brave  the  Czar's  will!  Your  life  may 
answer  for  this!"  shouted  Serge  Zubow,  in  a  transport 
of  rage. 

Prince  Maxutoff  rang  his  bell,  and  smilingly  seated 
himself.  "Send  me  the  Captain  of  the  Guard"  he  cried, 
as  his  official  secretary  entered  in  alarm  at  the  unseemly 
noise.  Princess  Beatrice,  Fedor  and  Olga  were  now  a 
group  of  three,  and  gazed  spellbound,  as  Zubow,  blind 
with  fury,  laid  his  hand  on  his  sword! — 

"Hold,  sir!  At  your  peril!"  sternly  cried  the  fearless 
Maxutoff,  and  when  the  Captain  entered,  he  coldly  said: 

"Bid  the  Captain  of  the  Port  prevent  all  communica 
tion  between  the  ship  'Nevsky '  and  the  shore!  Man  the 
batteries  and  enforce  this!" — It  was  now  war  to  the 
knife! 

"Stay,  Captain!  Sound  the  officers'  call  and  conduct 
all  the  officers  here  to  me!  Now,  sir,"  said  Maxutoff,  as 
he  turned  to  the  murderous  Tartar,  "  I  shall  expel  your 
ship  from  the  harbor,  sink  it,  if  necessary,  unless  I  know 
it  to  be  a  legal /y  entered  Russian  vessel! — As  for  convict 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  147 

No.  24190, — he  was  sent  to  me  under  a  special  later 
commission  of  Count  Fersen,  and  transferred  on  receipt, 
by  the  Emperor's  order,  two  months  after  your  proxy 
was  signed!  I  refuse  to  consider  him  in  any  way  under 
your  orders  without  the  sign  manual  of  His  Majesty,  the 
Emperor!" 

The  old  Bishop  nodded,  and  plucked  Zubow's  sleeve! 
The  officers  began  to  troop  in! 

"  As  for  the  woman  convict  known  as  ' Madame  Alien,' 
I  will  bring  her  before  you!" 

Zubow  smiled  a  hideous  leer,  and  threw  himself  in 
Maxutoff's  vacant  seat,  as  the  officers  in  full  uniform, 
were  ranged  in  a  silent  row  by  the  Port  Captain.  Zubow 
with  the  bated  ferocity  of  a  tiger  measuring  his  spring, 
waited  while  a  whispered  colloquy  was  heard  in  the 
Governor  General's  room.  A  woman's  choking  sob 
broke  on  the  breathless  silence  of  the  scene. 

All  started  to  their  feet  as  Prince  Maxutoff  led  the 
pallid-faced  beauty,  Madame  Alten,  into  the  presence 
of  Serge  Zubow,  whose  eyes  now  gleamed  in  triumph! 
At  her  right  hand  queenly  Beatrice  Maxutoff  walked, 
holding  the  prisoner's  trembling  hand!  And  Fedor 
Orlof,  his  blue  eyes  set  and  stern,  stood  on  her  left! 

"  /  do  not  want  that  scoundrel!  Take  him  away!" 
boldly  said  Zubow,  who  addressed  Olga  Darine,  as  one 
would  chide  a  hound!  "Come  here!  woman!" 

There  was  a  shudder,  and  the  two  supporters  alone 
held  the  half-fainting  woman  upright!  Her  eyes  were 
set,  and  her  marble  face  was  as  of  a  corpse. 

"Do you  hear?"  yelled  Zubow,  with  coarse  malignity! 

"  Hold!  Do  not  obey  I  "  gravely  said  Prince  Maxutoff, 
stepping  between  Serge  Zubow  and  the  half-fainting 
woman.  Turning  to  his  secretary,  he  said;  "0-pen  tht 
Register  of  Convict  Marriages!" 


lilt     PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 


There  was  a  start  of  astonishment  in  the  room!  The 
tears  coursed  down  Beatrice  Maxutoff's  cheeks  in  silence, 
as  Zubow  madly  threw  himself  forward.  — 


"Be  my  <>^'n  wife!  J/Y  bride.'  I  offer  you  all!  Are 
\\>u  mud*  "  he  hissed,  attempting  to  seize  Olga  Darine's 
hand.  Loud  murmurs  from  the  officers  broke  the  wait 
ing  silence. 

"Do  you  wish  to  marry  this  person?"  said  Prince 
Maxutofi,  pointing  sternly  at  the  exalted  Tartar  Prince. 

"/  must  be  a  convict's  bride!'"  faintly  fell  from  Olga 
Darine's  pallid  lips,  and  as  Beatrice  Maxutoff  whispered 
to  her,  she  added:  "I  refuse!"  —  She  spoke  with  cold 
disgust. 

"Then,  gentlemen,"  loudly  said  Prince  Maxutoff, 
"by  my  authority  as  Governor  General  of  Aliaska  and 
Walrussia  and,  under  the  law  of  the  Empire,  /  declare 
the  convict  No.  24190,  Fed  or  Or/of,  by  name,  —  and  the 
woman  convict  registered  as  Madam  Alten,  —  not  numbered, 
—  to  be  man  and  wife,  upon  their  expressing  their  choice, 
and  they  will  be  so  registered!  Do  you  so  choose  and  con 
sent?" 

With  a  flash  of  fire  in  their  eyes,  as  pale  as  the  glow 
of  the  Northern  Lights,  the  helpless  prisoners  gazed 
in  each  others'  sad  faces! 

"  We  do  so  wish  and  consent!"  they  cried,  in  hollow 
tones. 

"Then,  upon  this  registry,  /  so  declare  them!"  said 
the  Governor  General. 

"You  may  retire,  gentlemen!  "  he  cried,  waving  his 
hand  to  the  officers. 

"And  now,  the  woman  goes  with  me,  married  or  not, 
she  is  under  my  orders!"  thundered  Zubow. 

"The  penal  code  prevents  the  separation  of  convict 
husband  and  wife  except  for  punishment,  or  by  their  own 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  149 

registered  wish!     Hand  me  the   law!"  sternly  answered 
Prince  Maxutoff,— 

"  Am  I  right,  Bishop  ?  " 

"  You  are,  Excellency  !"  said  the  frightened  prelate. 

"Then,  I  now  order  these  two  convicts  to  be  entered 
as  my  servants,  and  so  released  from  all  penal  labors  and 
the  care  of  the  guard!"  remarked  Prince  Maxutoff  tri 
umphantly. 

"  You  may  take  your  servants  now,"  said  the  Governor 
General,  gently,  to  Princess  Beatrice,  as  he  led  his 
happy  wife  to  the  door,  followed  by  the  two  prisoners 
snatched  from  a  living  hell! 

A  strange  wedding,  in  a  strange  land! — 

In  the  room,  the  timid  secretary  and  the  old  Bishop 
alone  exchanged  glances,  as  Prince  Maxutoff  said  haugh 
tily  to  Serge  Zubow, 

"Your  Highness!  You  have  entered  this  house  for 
the  last  time,  while  I  am  in  the  commission  of  His  Ma 
jesty,  the  Emperor!  If  you  have  any  petty  business,  the 
Captain  of  the  Port  will  have  my  orders!  If  you  desire  to 
transact  any  important  affairs  with  me,  they  can  be  ad 
dressed  to  me,  through  the  Chancellerie!  You  will  observe 
that  I  have  duly  entered  the  Emperor's  secret  commission 
to  you!  It  relates  piirely  to  Khamschatka!  The  other 
document  has  no  force  to  me, — though  it  may  have  to  you, 
until  it  is  confirmed  by  an  Imperial  rescript!  It  will  be 
certainly  next  season  before  that  can  reach  me!  Till 
then  I  shall  obey  only  the  verified  orders!  " 

The  Governor  General  loudly  rang  his  bell.  To  the 
Captain  of  the  Guard,  who  appeared,  he  said: 

"You  will  escort  His  Highness,  Prince  Zubow,  past  the 
guards!  Let  no  one  approach  in  future  without  my  per 
sonal  order! "- 

There  was  a  howl  as  of  a  maddened  wild  beast,  when 
10 


150  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

the  Siberian,  Serge  Zubow  left  the  cabinet  of  the  Gov 
ernor  General. — His  brutal  ryes  were  blazing  with  an 
unslaked  fever  of  revenge!  Baffled  at  heart,  he  swore 
a  frightful  oath  of  vengeance,  unheard,  for  exhausted 
with  his  victory,  Gregory  Maxutoff  joined  his  wife,  who 
was  standing  with  the  fated  couple.  - 

"You  are  now  joined  '  hand  and  heart!'  "  cheerfully 
said  Maxutoff,  as  they  turned  to  him,  with  grateful  eyes: 
"  Beatrice,  you  must  busy  Olga  with  her  wedding  feast, 
and  you,  in  an  hour,  Orlof,  shall  tell  me  of  the  'Baranoff's* 
cruise!  " — 

When  Orlof  rejoined  Prince  Maxutoff  in  the  cabinet, 
the  gold  and  turquoise  circlet  gleamed  no  longer  on  his 
hand. 

•  "I  may  not  claim  you  as  my  wife  before  the  altar  of 
God,  but  your  ring  has  brought  me  back  to  you.  Take 
it  in  witness  of  my  eternal  love.  It  is  all  I  have  left 
to  give  !  For  Fedor  Orlof's  only  wealth  now  is  your 
love!"— 

In  the  loving  ministrations  of  Beatrice  Maxutoff,  the 
pale-faced  prisoner  bride  found  a  womanly  cheer  which 
brought  the  faint  flushes  back  to  her  r.heek,  as  delicate 
as  the  glow  of  the  spring  wild  rose  on  bold  Katalan's 
blood-stained  rock!— 

"  God  fghts  for  us!"  cheerily  cried  the  Governor 
General,  at  sundown.  "  I  only  wait  the  return  of  my 
Adjutant!  See  there!" 

They  gazed  from  the  window  and  saw  the  heavy 
sparred  "Nevsky"  now  swarming  with  men  busied  loos 
ening  her  white  sails. 

"Good!"  cried  Maxutoff,  as  the  officer,  returning, 
handed  him  a  paper,  to  which  he  scrawled  his  sign 
manual, 

"Seal  and  enter  that!  Hasten,'  Captain!  "  cried  th« 
Governor. 


THK    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  15! 

And  in  an  hour,  while  they  lingered  in  suspense,  the 
port's  heavy  steam  tug  drew  the  "  Nevsky  "  out  into  the 
cold,  gray,  fog  wreathed  inlet! — The  roving  trader  van 
ished  behind  the  islands! 

"So  much  for  a  black-hearted  villain!"  said  Maxutoff, 
after  dismissing  his  secretary,  who  reported  the  records 
correctly  made, 

"I  have  just  now  forced  Prince  Serge  Zubow  to 
apply  for  papers  describing  the  "  Nevsky  "  as  a  private 
ship,  still  under  the  American  flag, — and  bound  for  Petro- 
pavlosk  to  change  her  register  to  Russian. — The  law  makes 
him  change  her  flag  only  in  a  Russian  home  port!  So 
that  he  aimed  to  order  you  on  a  private  vessel,  which  is 
against  the  law! — Of  that  I  have  made  an  official  note! 
— Also  that  you  were  legally  married  under  the  convict 
code,  before  he  received  my  refusal  to  order  Madame 
Alten  to  the  infirmary?  That  fact  cut  off  his  power 
over  her!  I  have  also  signed  his  ship's  clearance  as 
the  American  ship  '  Nevsky  \ — unknown  owner, — Prince 
Serge  Zubow,  passenger. "- 

"  How  could  you  force  him  to  this?"  said  Orlof,  in 
wonder. 

"I  had  ordered  the  outer  batteries  by  semaphore,  to 
sink  him,  if  he  tried  to  run  by  without  his  clearance 
papers!  He  could  not  make  an  offing,  either,  without 
the  tug,  which  also  gave  them  their  needed  supply  of 
water!  I  warned  him  officially,  not  to  land  again  in  my 
jurisdiction,  until  the  vessel's  papers  had  been  legally 
changed!  The  Admiral  would  be  obliged  to  seize  his 
boat  as  a  pirate!  " 

"But  his  future  resentment?"  Orlof  urged.  "You 
have  risked  all  this  for  me, — -for  Olga?  " 

"  Alas!  my  poor  friend!"  said  the  grateful  noble,  "  we 
are  not  tried  by  this  alone! — I  have  other  troubles! 


152  THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA. 

Far  graver  ones!  I  received  a  secret  packet  from 
a  friend  in  America, — and  a  Government  spy  came 
up,  also,  on  this  very  ship! — The  Consul  at  Victoria 
is  an  old  school  fellow  of  mine!  A  network  of  vil 
lainous  schemes  is  being  woven  around  this  Alias- 
kan  transfer.  "I  dare  not  openly  say  that  Count 
Fersen,  Prince  Zubow,  their  official  friends  and  the 
great  American  and  foreign  capitalists  are  leagued 
against  the  Czar  to  rob  the  Crown,  but  I  fear  that  it  is 
true!  To  do  that,  they  must  outwit,  hoodwink,  baffle 
or  destroy  me!  I  know  not  which  will  happen, — but  the 
real  reason  the  Government  sells  Aliaska  is  now  the 
cause  of  my  present  danger!  It  is  too  far  from  Russia 
to  be  properly  defended  and  supplied,  and  I  cannot  get 
a  confidential  dispatch  bearer  to  Petersburg,  as  quick  as 
these  banded  scoundrels  can!  Listen!  To-morrow,  at 
noon,  the  whole  official  staff  will  attend  a  special  church 
service!  At  its  close,  I  order  you  and  your  beautiful  Olga 
to  present  yourselves  before  the  Bishop  for  the  solemn 
celebration  of  your  marriage.  You  can  appear  as  my 
secretary.  Once  done,  it  can  not  be  undone!  And  it 
gives  you  the  right  to  church  registry!  " — 

"But  the  papers,  the  orthodox  ante-nuptial  cere 
monies?"  said  Fedor. 

"They  are  useless,  there  is  no  such  formality  here!— 
You  are  both  under  my  orders!  The  Bishop  must  pro 
nounce  this  benediction,  and  give  you  proper  papers, 
for  he  now  depends  on  me  alone  for  the  comfort  of  his 
clergy!" 

"Prince,  it  is  useless.'"  groaned  Fedor,  his  past  life 
rising  up  in  dark  shadows!  "  But,  /  thank  you!  "  he  mur 
mured. 

"Say  no  more!"  quietly  answered  the  acute  official, — 
"  Your  wife  has  rights'  She  has  acted  innocently^  and 


PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  1$$ 

earned  them!  There  are  no  charges  cited  against  her! 
She  is  only  detained!  Zubow  did  not  know  that!  I  could 
not  violate  the  secrecy  of  the  Privy  Council's  orders  to 
confute  his  claim!  I  took  the  best  course  for  your  future! 
for  Olga's!  My  wife  has  given  me  her  whole  views! 
She  was  a  maid  of  Honor,  you  know!  " 

The  convict  noble  bowed. 

"  Now,  you  are  the  head  of  your  house!" 

Fedor  sprang  to  his  feet!  It  flashed  over  his  mind 
that  his  own  hand  had  made  him  the  heir  to  the  title! 

"Your  wife  is  Countess  Orlof!" 

"Spare  me!"  shuddered  Fedor. 

"My  friend,  there  are  other  considerations!  Let  me 
lead  you  in  this!  Attainder  is  impossible  in  Russia! — 
The  innocent  may  not  share  your  burden.  And  there 
may  be  brighter  days!  " — 

Orlof  bowed  in  silence. 

"My  wife  has  already  spoken  to  Olgal  In  fact,  she 
would  not  have  it  otherwise!  Now, — every  leap  of  that 
vessel  over  the  waves  is  bearing  my  bitterest  enemy  on 
to  Khamschatka!  If  you  have  found  aught  to  promise 
success  to  our  mining  hopes,  /  can  execute  at  once  the 
provisional  formalities,  send  the  '  Baranoff '  to  Victoria, 
and  my  grant  will  be  entered  and  registered  at  St.  Peters 
burg,  months  before  Zubow  can  counteract  it!  He  can 
not  suspect!  " — 

"Is  this  true?  Have  they  not  watched  you?  "anx 
iously  said  Orlof,  thinking  of  Lefranc,  and  of  the  nightly 
visits  of  Phillippi,  Zubow  and  the  renegade  to  crafty 
old  Shaman  Thorn!  Did  they  suspect  the  real  locality 
of  the  mine?  " 

"I  can  antedate  them  easily  three  months!"  replied 
Maxutoff,  earnestly. 

"Then,"  cried  Orlof  joyously,  "We  are  safe!     For  I 


154  TH1:    I'KIM'I'-SS    <>F    ALASKA. 

have  located  the  source  of  the  gold,  within  the  limits  of 
a  ten  mile  grant '.'  "- 

Maxutoff  laughed!  "Why!  I  can  get  fifty  miles 
square!  Can  it  be  definitely  enclosed  by  a  survey  within 
risible  land  marks?  "  questioned  the  excited  Maxutoff. 

"  I  can  enclose  the  whole  area,  beyond  doubt!  "  replied 
Fedor. 

"Then," — he  said, — "Send  your  working  forces  tp 
the  boat  now,  and  have  the  whole  geological  collection 
unloaded!  My  proofs  are  there!  I  will  draw  the  plats 
from  your  maps  here,  on  a  rough  enlargement!" 

Prince  Maxutoff  sprang  to  his  bell!  —  In  an  hour,  the 
working  force  was  staggering  up  the  stairs,  under  the 
burden  of  sacks,  casks  and  boxes  laden  with  Orlof's 
mysterious  specimens. — Maxutoff  was  eager!  He  or 
dered —  "  Draw  the  sketch!  To-morrow,  I  will  have  the 
grant  and  application  papers  prepared.  You  must  make 
no  mistake!  I  will  not  lose  a  single  moment!  Have  you 
absolute  proofs?  " 

"You  shall  see  them!"  Orlof  proudly  answered. 
"  Wait  for  the  boxes!" 

"Now!  Your  Highness!  said  Orlof,  in  a  whisper, 
"  Here  is  the  mouth  of  the  Tako!  This  secret  has  been 
kept  by  the  fierce  Sundown  and  Takou  savages,  under 
Shaman  Thorn's  awful  curse!  There  is  a  deep  canal, — 
an  inlet, — the  two  points  of  the  terrific  mountain  heads 
of  the  Tako,  —  a  large  island,  sixty  leagues  around,  tim 
bered  into  the  very  sea,  quite  elevated, — and  near  it,  a  small 
green  island  high  and  bare!  A  ten  mile  square  from  the 
mouth  of  the  Tako  includes  all!  The  inlets  are  always 
fog-wreathed. — Now,  the  wily  old  chief  alone  guards 
this  secret!  He  would  not  even  let  the  schooner  enter 
the  canal,  but  I  was  sent  along  to  these  varied  points  in 
a  canoe!  We  met,  on  different  days,  several  canoes  full 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA  155 

of  these  sly  Indians!  I  was  landed  finally  with  only  one 
man,  an  Indian,  who,  by  signs,  told  me  that  /'/  was  the 
desired  spot!  Following  your  orders,  I  dissembled  my 
secret  satisfaction!  I  spent  three  days  alone,  at  different 
times,  on  this  small  island!  I  studied  and  plotted  my 
work  from  the  vessel's  charts,  and  have  written  you  also 
a  secret  description  of  the  local  scenery!  It  is  on  the 
small  high  green  island,  with  scattered  pine  forests  in  its 
sheltered  nooks!  There,  in  the  ledges  and  channels,  I 
have  scooped  handfuls  of  gold  horn  the  rotten,  dampened 
guartz  gullies!  "— 

"You  are  not  deceiving  me?"  Maxutoff  asked  anxiously, 
and  grasped  Fedor's  arms,  in  a  nervous  grip: — "And  the 
Indians?" 

"They  think  the  gold  is  only  in  the  black  sand  of  the 
rocky  shore,  where  the  gold  washed  down  by  the  torrents 
mingles  with  the  heavy  shore  layer!  But  the  whole  island 
is  one  vast  mass  of  gold  quartz!  There  are  millions  of  dol 
lars  lying  there,  guarded  only  by  the  timid  deer  who  swim 
the  inlet  to  crop  the  tender  moss  and  straggling  grass! 
The  decomposed  quartz,  in  the  ravines,  furnished  me  my 
store!  Here  is  the  sketch:  This  island  must  be  the  one 
marked  here  "San  Carlos,"  by  Ayala  and  Quadra,  and 
"Douglas  Island"  by  Vancouver!  I  have  the  old  draw 
ings  and  sketches,  so  you  can  not  mistake!  There  is  but 
one  such  island,  but  it  is  hard  to  find!"— 

"Your  first  trip  in  the  spring  shall  be  to  complete  the 
survey,  and  I  will  make  the  grant  for  twenty  miles  square 
from  the  Tako  Inlet!  But,  here  are  all  the  specimens," 
said  Maxutoff,  as  the  orderly  officer  reported. 

"There  is  only  one  case  that  I  want!" — whispered 
Orlof,  I  brought  the  rest  only  as  a  blind/" 

They  were  alone. 

"Can  I  eali  the  Princess  and ?" 


156  'I  HE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

"  The  Countess,"  said  Maxutoff,  with  a  smile. 

-  r, 

And  while  the  two  beautiful  assistants  looked  on,  Fedor 
Orlof,  with  strong  blows  broke  open  a  heavy  barrel, 
which  he  had  rolled  in  from  the  gallery! — He  knew  its 
secret  mark  at  once!  Overturning  it,  he  threw  out  one 
after  another,  a  dozen  raw  hide  ammunition  pouches! 
They  were  concealed  in  layers  of  moss.  Opening  the 
first,  he  poured  out  on  the  polished  table,  a  dull  yellow 
heap  of  roughened  golden  grains,  varying  in  size,  mixed 
with  black  sand,  and  buried  in  a  shower  of  fine  golden 
scales!  It  was  a  precious  heap  of  virgin  gold! 

"  There  is  five  thousand  roubles,  in  native  gold,  in  each 
of  those  pouches!  I  brought  all  I  dared!  Every  runlet 
and  ravine  has  its  treasure!" 

The  ladies  were  clasped  in  each  other's  arms,  as  Max 
utoff  threw  up  his  arms  in  delight! 

"It  is  an  untold  fortune!     It  gives  us  all  wealth!" — 

" May  it  also  bring  us  happiness!"  said  Orlof,  solemnly, 
as  he  kissed  gentle  Beatrice  Maxutoff  s  hand 

"And  no  one  knows?" — the  Prince  Governor  was 
breathless. 

"The  crew  suspect  nothing!  I  urged  old  Shaman 
Thorn  to  encourage  my  trade  with  his  men!  You  can 
see  the  crafty  old  pagan  and  question  him  yourself.  He 
told  me  truly  that  the  fierce  Indians  of  these  tribes  fight 
all  others  away,  and  gleaning  the  shoies  of  the  island, 
divide  the  gold  and  trade  it  off  later!  They  think  it 
comes  up  from  the  sea!" 

"And  you  are  sure  of  the  quartz  formation?"  demand 
ed  Maxutoff. 

"I  have  brought  barrels  of  the  rock  in  its  raw,  its  pow 
dered,  and  its  partly  rotten  state!  This  is  not  alluvial 
gold  like  the  hydraulic  drift  of  Siberia,  of  California,  of 


THE    PRINCESS    OF*   ALASKA.  157 

the  African,  and  Eastern  American  gold  fields  1  It  is 
quartzose  and  volcanic,  like  the  Mexican,  South  Ameri 
can,  Rocky  Mountain,  and  Australian  drifts,  though  both 
forms  may  be  met  at  once!'1'1 — 

The  evening  stars  were  shining  in  peace: — and  all  the 
circle  wove  dreams  of  a  happy  future! — 

"Let  us  conceal  all  this  treasure,  my  friends!"  said 
Maxutoff,  joining  their  hands.  "We  four  here  present 
hold  a  golden  secret!  Now,  I  claim  the  rights  of  host! 
To-night,  in  quiet,  we  enjoy  your  wedding  feast, — to-mor 
row,  the  grants  shall  be  prepared,  and  I  will  send  the 
'Baranoff '  to  Victoria,  with  my  sealed  dispatches!  My 
right  to  enter  this  grant  is  undoubted!  I  will  stipulate 
for  all  fishing,  timber,  agricultural  and  mineral  owner 
ship!  The  Czar  wrill  refuse  me  nothing  I  ask!" — 

"Before  your  marriage  ceremony  at  the  church  to-mor 
row,  Orlof,  you  shall  give  me  the  maps  in  quadruplicate. 
— I  will  have  all  the  entries  in  the  archives  made,  and 
the  grants  will  be  in  my  name,  and  that  of  my  heirs,  as 
well  as  that  of  the  Countess  Orlof  and  her  heirs!  Irma, 
as  Princess  of  Alaska,  can  protect  your  wife's  interests! 
This  will  leave  your  name  out  of  it,  and  the  Petersburg 
officials  will  think  it  only  a  distant  partnership! — Fersen 
told  me  the  Emperor  would  give  me  this  new  dignity  of 
Prince  of  Alaska  on  my  presentation  when  I  return  !"- 

" After  that,"  and  Maxutoff  smiled,  "until  the  spring 
clears  away  the  snows  so  you  can  go  and  take  possession 
for  me,  under  pretense  of  a  detailed  survey  of  the  Tako 
Lynn  Channel,  Admiralty  Island  and  Douglas  Island,  I 
shall  expect  you,  Fedor,  to  make  my  working  days 
lighter,  and  my  dear  Olga,  you  have  your  lovely  charge, 
Irma!  If  you  as  husband  and  wife,  can  not  find  happi 
ness  under  the  Northern  Lights,  it  will  not  be  chargeable 
to  my  harshness!  Try  and  forget!  Live  in  your  love!" — 


158  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

In  the  enchanted  weeks  which  flrd  away,  secure  under 
noble  Maxutoff's  protection,  the  lovers,  now  united 
before  the  altar  of  God,  forgot  the  ban  laid  on  them  l>y 
the  law! — A  seeming  paradise  was  opened  to  them!— 

1  *  Could  any/ Aing  add  to  our  happiness?"  whispered 
Countess  Olga,  now  freed  from  Serge  Zubow's  ominous 
presence.  They  were  walking  in  the  silent  halls  of 
Baranoff  Castle,  the  cedar  citadel  builded  on  the  great 
rock,  which  the  rich  Baranoff  left  on  his  homeward  voy 
age,  going  only  to  his  sudden  death! — 

Maxutoff  and  his  wife  were  dashing  over  the  valley 
snows  below,  with  willful  little  Irma, — delighted  at 
her  wild  sleigh  ride! — The  patent  and  grant  papers  now 
only  needed  the  Emperor's  august  Jiand,  for  three  months 
had  glided  away  in  an  unbroken  happiness!  Beautiful 
Olga  Orlof's  voice  often  thrilled  through  the  great  halls 
in  happiness,  and  the  evenings  under  the  magical  play 
of  the  glowing,  flashing  Northern  Lights  were  but  a  pre 
lude  to  busy  and  contented  days!  Loving,  lovely  and 
beloved. — Olga  never  heard  the  rustle  of  the  robes  of  the 
beautiful,  ghostly  bride,  the  White  Lady  of  Baranoff 
Castle,  who  was  found  dead,  in  the  dim  anteroom,  when 
her  princely  lover  waited  in  vain  for  an  unwilling  bride! 
For  the  mad  lover  of  her  heart  had  sacrificed  the  one 
dearer  than  life  to  him  to  save  her  from  another,  and 
then  thrown  himself  on  the  rocks!  Innocent  Olga  was 
shadowed  by  no  foreboding  as  she  spoke!  But,  even  in 
his  hours  of  supreme  happiness,  Fedor  Orlof  turned  his 
eyes  often  to  where  Russia  lay,  beyond  the  rim  of  the 
gray,  heaving  waste  of  waters!  There,  he  seemed  to  see 
again,  as  ever,  the  accusing  face  of  the  fatherless  Vera 
Orlof, — the  little  cousin  whom  he  had  once  fondled, 
even  as  he  now  caressed  his  wife's  graceful  charge, 
Irma  Maxutoff!  Always,  that  fair  young  face,  wistful 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  159 

and  saddened,  in  an  orphan's  weeds,  seemed  to  gaze  on 
him,  the  innocent  1'ps  whispering:  "  Where  is  my 
father?  " 

For  the  passing  years  had  only  told  him  that  he  could 
make  no  fitting  atonement! — 

He  turned  and  kissed  his  wife  in  silence  as  she  repeated 
her  question: 

"If  there  must  be  retribution,  let  it  fall  on  me  alone!" 
murmured  Orlof  as  he  presssed  his  beloved  to  his 
haunted  heart. — 

It  was  seven  months  since  Serge  Zubow  saw  Sitka's 
lights  fade  away  as  he  paced  the  "  Nevsky's"  deck  in 
frantic  rage,  when  a  stout  cutter  drove  into  the  sound, 
and  Prince  Maxutoff  met  it  at  the  icy  strand. — It  was 
the  secret  dispatch  boat  of  his  agent  in  British  Colum 
bia,  now  at  Victoria. — By  the  telegraph  over  Europe,— 
the  steamer  to  New  York,  and  telegraph  to  San  Francisco 
and  Portland, — thence  by  secret  message  to  Victoria,  he 
awaited  news  of  the  confirmation  of  his  concession,  and 
the  final  transfer  of  the  great  American  domains  of  the 
Czar! 

The  schooner  "  Baranoff "  was  now  ready  to  flit  forth 
at  any  moment,  and  bear  Orlof  through  the  sea-washed 
gorges  of  the  Sitkan  Archipelago,  over  the  cool,  spark 
ling  waters  ot  the  land-locked  inlets,  swarming  with  sil 
very  fishes,  past  the  overhanging  majesty  of  the  great 
snow  peaks  of  the  wild  land,  to  glide  under  the  sculpt 
ured  walls  of  the  Ice  Kings's  blue  crystal  palace, — the 
glacier  land  of  eternal  silence  and  entrancing  beauty. 
There,  the  icy  architecture  glowed  pink  and  golden  in 
the  marvellous  sunsets,  or  shimmered  in  silvery  white 
ness  when  the  pale  moon  gleamed  on  the  savage  beauty 
of  the  wild  pagan's  homes! 

Qrlof  was  ready  to  go  forth  now  and  hold  the  golden 


l6o  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

treasure  island  for  his  princely  friend,  and  the  dear  ones 
linked  in  the  ambitions  of  the  coming  years.  From 
Baranoff  Castle,  the  Princess  and  her  friend,  the  wife  of 
a  prison  romance,  watched  the  Prince  and  Orlof  hasten 
ing  homeward. 

''I  am  filled  with  a  strange  fear! — I  know  not  why!" 
said  Olga  Orlof,  as  she  leaned  her  head  on  her  friend's 
breast. 

"There  is  no  shadow  now!  Zubow  will  never  return! 
He  must  have  wintered  at  Kodiak  or  in  Khamschatka. 
We  will  have  glad  tidings!"  cried  Princess  Beatrice,  as 
her  husband's  smiling  face  met  her  gentle,  inquiring 
gaze. 

"  Victory!"  cried  Prince  Gregory,  as  he  led  the 
friends  into  his  cabinet.  "  I  have/////  home  dispatches 
and  a  cipher  telegram.  The  provinces  will  be  turned 
over  to  the  Americans,  in  October,  next  year!  The  Czar 
will  have  six  hundred  thousand  square  miles  less  terri 
tory.  And  we  then  all  will  go  home!  I  will  have  Orlof 
pardoned!  I  have  had  the  land  grant  duly  entered  and 
sealed  at  St.  Petersburg!  The  Island  is  forever 
Mine!"— 

Joy  and  gladness  reigned!  Happiness  shone  on 
every  brow!  But  the  fair  face  of  Countess  Olga  alone 
was  shadowed  with  the  strange  sadness,  as  the  "  Baran- 
off's"  day  of  sailing  dawned!  With  a  delicacy  all  his 
own,  Prince  Gregory  arranged  to  give  Orlof  his  last 
instructions  for  his  month's  absence,  on  the  tug  which 
was  to  accompany  the  schooner  up  the  strait  for  some 
hours. 

"Take  this  last  day  for  yourselves!"  said  Maxutoff. — 
"You  are  free  to  return  here,  Fedor,  as  soon  as  you 
have  recognized  the  island  and  definitely  located  it! 
Make  all  the  legal  surveys  needed! — You  can  then  leave 


THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA.  l6l 

the  Sergeant's  guard  to  build  huts,  and  I  will  send  up 
later,  supplies  for  a  season's  comfortable  stay.  My 
grant  being  properly  recognized  in  the  diplomatic  trans 
fer,  our  labors  are  done!  We  must  only  file  the  maps 
at  home!— You  will  find  a  congenial  winter's  occupation 
in  aiding  me  in  the  transfer,  for  I  will  have  detailed 
instructions  as  to  the  evacuation  by  the  first  spring  war 
vessel! — 

Irma  Maxutoff,  with  childish  concern,  clung  to  her 
father  when  the  great  doors  of  Baranoff  Castle  were 
opened,  as  Orlof  left  his  love,  with  streaming  eyes  and 
trembling  lips  in  the  arms  of  Princess  Beatrice!  On  the 
threshold,  he  turned  back  to  clasp  Olga  once  more  in  his 
arms,  to  whisper  those  burning  words  of  love  which  sent 
the  sudden  color  even  now  to  her  pallid  cheeks!  One 
last  embrace,  and  Jie  was  gone! 

From  the  deck  of  a  schooner,  Fedor  Orlof,  a  prayer 
on  his  lips,  watched  the  last  gleam  of  the  white  signal 
fluttering  in  the  delicate  blue-veined  hands,  still  ting 
ling  with  his  kisses! — He  set  his  face  to  the  lonely 
North,  and  a  darkness,  greater  than  that  of  the  grow 
ing  night,  fell  on  his  soul,  as  the  "  Baranoff"  stood 
away  toward  Tako  inlet.— 

A  week  of  baffling  navigation,  days  of  waiting  for  the 
uncertain  natives  and  several  trips  in  canoes  managed 
by  strange  savages,  wore  out  the  brightness  of  Orlof's 
handsome  face.  "Can  it  be  that  these  natives  have 
been  secretly  tampered  with!"  he  mused,  as  he  returned 
to  the  schooner's  old  landing  place,  a  safe  anchorage, 
baffled  and  tired  out,  day  after  day!  He  dared  not  use 
force,  and  he  could  not  confer  with  the  officer  in  com 
mand  of  the  vessel  upon  his  secret  quest!  It  would 
expose  the  secret  relations! 

As  he  arose,  after  a  night  of  unrest,  for  one  more 


l62  IHF    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

determined  effort  to  find  in  the  winding  channel  the 
"small,  JiigJi  green  island''1  he  sought,  he  pondered  on 
the  risk  of  leading  the  schooner's  long  boat  in  himself. 
"One  more  trial  of  the  natives!"  he  muttered,  as  he 
noted  the  courses  and  memoranda  of  the  day  in  his 
journal.  The  sailors  were  chafing  at  the  apparently 
useless  delay  in  the  inlet! — 

The  pen  fell  from  his  hand,  in  the  gray  of  the  foggy 
dawn,  as  he  saw  the  fatal  date.'  It  was  the  anniversar\ 
of  his  unexpiated  crime!  In  dejection  and  silence  he 
left  the  "  Baranoff's "  side  in  a  canoe  manned  by  a 
dozen  low-browed  Eskimo.  For  hours,  through  the 
fog  and  changing  currents,  the  chattering  pagans  pad 
dled  him  from  inlet  to  inlet.  It  was  the  same  blind 
riddle  as  before!  — 

His  brain  whirled  with  fantastic  recognitions.  He 
could  not  verify  in  the  weary  hours  of  the  voyage  the 
scenery  of  the  year  before.  And  over  his  mind  to-day 
hung  the  clouded  sadness  of  his  unholy  deed,  the  bitter 
memories  of  the  prison.  Even  Zubow's  cold  malignity 
returned  to  depress  him!  Alone  with  the  savages, 
unarmed,  save  with  a  heavy  hunting  knife,  he  noted  the 
varied  shores,  fog-wreathed  and  changing,  as  the  canoe 
whirled  in  the  swift,  green  current!  His  mind  strayed 
away  from  his  task  as  the  sweet  face  of  Olga,  his  wait 
ing  wife,  the  prison  flower  of  his  heart,  came  to  distract 
him! — Her  eyes  seemed  to  beam  on  him,  deep  in  the 
wifely  tenderness  which  has  given  to  love  a  newer,  holier 
name! — His  eyes  grew  fond  and  dreamy  as  he  trailed 
his  hand  over  the  side  of  the  light  canoe  to  test  the 
turning  current.  "Would  he  crcr  lead  the  beautiful 
woman  back  to  freedom  and  the  home  of  her  happy 
youth?  For  they  had  promised  in  their  dreams  of  a 
golden  future  that  some  day,  in  a  far-off  Italian  town, 


THE    ^RIN^fiSS    OF    ALASKA.  163 

hidden  under  the  crags  of  beautiful  Sorrento,  they 
would,  should  Love  lead  the  way  to  Liberty,  retrace 
the  paths  dear  to  Olga  Darine  in  her  untroubled 
girlhood!  That,  hand  in  hand, — they  would  walk  by 
the  purpling  seas  where  her  child-voice  first  broke  out 
into  song  as  sweet  as  the  morning  lark! 

Suddenly,  a  sullen  Indian  grasped  his  arm!  The  fog 
had  blown  off,  and  before  him,  half  a  mile  away,  lay 
the  well-remembered  high  bare  green  island,  with  its 
unreaped  golden  harvest  hidden  in  cleft  and  rusty  quartz 
ledge!  He  sprang  to  eager  action! 

"Ah!  I  have  been  paddling  around  it,  and  turning 
always  to  the  left  out  through  the  wrong  inlet!  "  cried 
Orlof,  awake  now  to  every  moment's  value.  For  with 
his  compass  and  sextant  he  could  locate  from  its  sum 
mit,  a  few  hundred  feet  high,  the  well-known  headlands 
and  even  the  schooner's  very  position! 

On  the  light  canoe  dashed,  and,  springing  ashore  at 
the  nearest  point,  Fedor  bade  the  crew  rest  and  await 
him!  He  must  do  this  vitally  important  work  alone! 
He  dared  not  risk  faithless  followers!  From  the  first 
high  knoll,  as  he  rapidly  took  a  round  of  shore  bear 
ings,  he  could  plainly  see  the  schooner's  top  masts  and 
fluttering  signal  two  leagues  away.  //  was,  in  very 
truth,  the  golden  island!  The  secret  of  its  position  in 
the  channel-head  was  at  last  explained,  for  he  now 
noted  several  false  inlets  and  connecting  straits  of  the 
involved  fiords!  In  a  half  hour  he  had  finished  his 
vitally  necessary  observations  on  the  summit  and  en 
tered  them  in  his  note  book! — 

Oppressed  with  the  silent  loneliness,  a  treasure  un 
claimed  lying  in  the  dingy  rocks  under  his  feet,  he 
returned  his  steps  towards  the  canoe's  landing  place. 
He  descended  slowly  into  the  gully,  in  whose  soft  run- 


164  THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA. 

let  sands  he  had  scooped  up  the  gold  which  Maxutoff 
now  treasured !  //  was  the  future  fortune  of  his  darling  wife! 
—The  bushes  and  low  trees  shaded  the  banks  of  the 
ravine!  Suddenly,  he  uttered  a  quick  exclamation  of 
surprise,  for  before  him  on  the  moist  sands  of  the  creek 
were  the/;rj7/  prints  of  booted  feet! — 

A  vague  alarm  seized  him!  He  sprang  toward  a  knoll 
from  whence  he  could  see  the  whole  channel.  —  "Had 
some  wandering  inhaler  found  the  Golden  Island?  Was 
there  a  secret  party  hidden  near?"  He  \vould  return 
and  take  possession  with  the  whole  force,  and  then  send 
A  canoe  at  once  paddling  back  for  reinforcements 
and  orders!  As  his  tall  form  straightened  itself  in  the 
forward  movement  a  sharp,  double  report  rang  out,  and 
Fedor  Orlof  sprang  into  the  air, — crashing  down  in  his 
fall,  even  as  the  forest  oak!  His  lips  trembled  in  the  last 
word  "  Olga!"  and,  before  the  beloved  name  had 
sounded  on  the  echoing  air,  with  a  shudder  and  a 
quiver  o'f  the  muscles,  the  strong  man's  spirit  fled  for 
ever! — The  echoes  died  away  in  hollow  reverberations 
on  the  lonely  hills! 

Two  burly  forms  sprang  out  from  the  shaded  copse; — 
one  was  seal-skin  clad  and  hooded,  like  a  native! — He 
grasped  a  heavy  pistol  ready  for  use  in  his  clenched 
hand!  //  was  the  traitor  Pierre! 

"  It  is  useless!  He  is  finished  off!"  growled  a  brutal 
voice,  and  burly  Serge  Zubow,  clad  in  a  Russian  sailor's 
garb,  stood  gazing  fiercely  at  the  body  of  his  prostrate 
foe! 

"What  shall  we  do  with  him?"  muttered  Pierre  Le- 
franc,  for  by  the  hand  of  his  one  time  comrade,  Fedor 
Orlof  had  died  in  a  foul  murder!  And  far  away  Olga's 
loving  eyes  were  raised  to  Heaven  in  a  prayer  for  him! 

"Leave  him  for  the  wild  beasts!"   roughly  muttered 


THE    PRINCESS    Oi<    ALASKA.  165 

Zubow.  "Here  search  him!  //  is  your  job!  His  death 
is  the  price  of  your  freedom!  I  care  not  for  the  task!  I 
am  satisfied!  He  will  brave  Serge  Zubow  no  more! 
Make  haste!  Cross  over  the  island!  I  want  to  drop 
down  the  whaleboat  with  the  current!  But,  what  in  the 
devil's  name  was  his  party  doing  here?" 

The  moody  brute,  Zubow,  a  double-barrelled  rifle  in 
his  hand,  strode  swiftly  over  the  ridge  to  where  his 
boat's  crew  lay  Hidden  on  the  land  side  of  the  island. 

11 1  have  not  entered  a  port"  he  laughed,  "only 
touched  at  an  island!"  With  trembling  fingers  Pierre 
Lefranc  cut  away  the  dead  man's  field  glasses  and  picked 
up  the  sextant  lying  by  the  murdered  noble's  side! 
There  was  a  marvellous  beauty  in  the  fair  manly  face, 
waxen  in  death!  Lefranc  fled  away  like  a  madman,  for 
the  brave  blue  eyes  gazed  heavenward,  as  if  imploring 
God's  pardon!  Fedor  Orlof  had  made  the  atonement 
of  innocent  blood  at  last!  And  his  beloved  wife  prayed 
for  him  far  away  on  this  day  of  gloomy  memory! — 

"I  can  hide  this  from  all!  Zubow  will  never  land 
here  again!  He  only  followed  Orlof  here  on  this  mad 
revenge!  The  secret  of  this  place  is  now  mine,  mine 
alone  I  And  when  the  Yankees  take  the  land,  /will  be 
the  owner  of  this  treasure  stored  islet!"'  Pierre  chuckled 
in  glee. 

As  he  overtook  Zubow,  crashing  through  the  bushes, 
Lefranc  hoarsely  cried:  "Nothing  but  this  field  glass 
and  the  sextant!" 

"Ah!  a  scientific  survey!"  growled  Zubow.  —  "It  is 
over!  Come!  Hurry  on!  I  will  get  the  ship  out  from 
behind  Admiralty  Island  and  fifty  leagues  at  sea  before 
this  fellow  is  found!  I  will  land  you  at  Khamschatka, 
with  orders  to  send  you  over  to  Kodiak  in  the  first 
11 


1 66  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

vessel!  Your  pardon  and  discharge  shall  be  in  your 
pocket  when  \ou  land!  Yon  have  earned  it!" 

Before  the  next  dawn,  the  "Nevsky,"  beating  to  sea 
ward  like  a  fierce  cormorant,  drove  away  over  the  rough 
waves  of  Behring  Sea,  bearing  off  moody  Zubow, 
maddened  with  brandy,  for  he  too  saw  the  brave  blue  eyes 
of  Orlof  gazing  clearly  towards  the  heavens  above! 
Pierre  Lefranc,  now  instinctively  avoiding  his  murderous 
master,  clutched  now  the  papers  that  made  him  free! 
A  strange  hallucination  seized  him  when  the  effect  of 
his  daily  vodki  debauches  left  him!  He  could  hear 
Orlof  whisper:  "We  are  partners, — comrades!  We  will 
live  or  die  together!"  And  the  brute,  cowering  in 
his  hammock,  tried  to  shut  out  the  fate  of  "his  silent 
partner! " 

It  was  days  before  the  stern  naval  officer,  who  paced 
the  "Baranoff"  deck,  was  met  at  his  ship's  side  by  bis 
faithful  crew,  bearing  back  Orlof 's  body!  He  had  seized 
all  the  natives,  and  forced  a  search,  sending  a  squad  of 
armed  sailors  out  with  every  canoe!  In  the  cabin,  he 
listened  in  solemn  gravity  to  the  old  boatswain,  who 
delivered  him  Count  Orlof's  note  book  and  the  small 
articles  found  on  his  body. 

On  the  deck,  guarded  by  a  sentinel,  lay  the  body  of 
the  dead  soldier!  The  Lieutenant  sprang  to  his  feet 
as  the  old  sailor  said:  "Murdered!  and  by  white  men! 
For  there  were  the  tracks  of  two  men  wearing  new  sea 
boots  and  he  was  shot  with  a  metallic  cartridge  rifle 
at  short  range!" 

In  the  fitful  flashes  of  a  terrible  storm,  the  "Baranoff" 
was  forced  to  run  out  to  sea,  to  avoid  the  black  squall 
now  breaking  on  the  dangerous  coast! 

Sealing  up  all  the  articles  delivered  to  him,  the  com 
mander,  with  all  the  observance  due  the  rank  of  the  man 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  167 

now  freed  forever  from  all  earthly  bonds,  steered  into 
Sitka  Sound,  with  his  colors  reversed  in  distress! 

Beside  her  chosen  watch  station,  at  the  seaward 
window  fair  Olga  Orlof,  glass  in  hand,  swept  the  blue 
expanse  toward  the  north.  It  was  on  a  sunny  morning, 
when  leading  his  silent  wife,  her  face  white  with  a 
sudden  terror,  Prince  Gregory  Maxutoff  approached  the 
waiting  Olga  and  gently  took  the  glasses  from  her  hand! 
With  one  quick  glance  at  Beatrice  Maxutoff 's  eyes,  the 
Countess  Orlof  fell  prone  and  senseless  at  her  friend's 
feet!  The  tidings  of  the  semaphore  were  telegraphed 
in  advance  of  the  slowly  gliding  schooner,  drifting 
down,  bearing  the  husband  lover  home  in  the  stillness 
of  death,  to  the  woman  whose  beloved  name  trembled 
on  his  dying  lips!  And  so,  Stephan  Orlof  was  avenged  at 
last! 

It  was  a  month  later  when  a  graceful  figure,  shrouded 
in  black,  descended  the  winding  stairs  of  Baranoff 
Castle!  It  was  the  widowed  Countess  Orlof,  at  whom 
the  sentinel,  presenting  arms  to  the  Governor  General, 
gazed  in  awe!  No  angel  carved  in  Parian  marble, 
watching  over  a  tomb,  in  frozen  loveliness,  was  paler 
than  this  mute  lovely  mourner!  She  leaned  on  Prince 
Gregory's  arm,  and  her  eyes  rested  sadly  on  the  tall 
spars  of  a  fleet  Russian  frigate,  the  herald  of  the  sum 
mer  fleet! 

The  streets  of  the  village  were  thronged  with  officers, 
as  the  only  carriage  of  the  settlement  awaited  the 
Prince  and  his  charges.  These  chivalrous  Russians 
whispered  their  sympathy  as  the  beautiful  vision  was 
lost  to  sight.  Their  hearts  were  touched  with  sorrow. 

11  So  strange!"11  said  Commander  Linieff,  now  on  his 
return,  with  promotion,  —  "I  am  told,"  he  turned  to  his 
executive  officer,  "that  the  Countess  Orlof 's  pardon 


TIIK    PRINCESS    OF    ILASKA. 

iiu  hides  crrry  reinstatement.'  Prince  Maxutoff  has  told 
me  that  he  has  grave  fears  for  her  health  !  The 
mysterious  murder  of  her  husband  has  apparently 
affected  her  mind!  She  may  go  down  to  California  with 
us  on  the  'Rurik,'  but  I  doubt  if  she  will  ever  leave 
the  Princess!  It  is  only  a  year  now,  till  we  will  haul 
down  the  St.  Andrew's  Cross  forever  from  "  Baranoff 
Castle!" 

"Ah!  They  will  then  go  home  ^together!"  said  the 
junior. 

"So  I  am  told!  Prince  Gregory  wishes  to  begin  the 
education  of  that  charming  fairy  sprite,  Irma! — She 
must  be  an  ideal  Princess  of  Alaska! — And,  I  presume, 
the  ladies  will  settle  temporarily  on  the  continent.  It 
will  take  the  Governor  Maxutoff  fully  a  ivw;- to  turn  over 
all  this  vast  realm,  and  rejoin  them.  The  land  will  be 
soon  overrun  with  the  prying  Yankees  and  all  sorts  of 
adventurers.  The  American  flag  will  draw  the  outcasts 
of  the  whole  west  hither!  It  is  wise  that  the  Prince 
sends  his  family  circle  out  as  soon  as  he  can!  The  new 
era  will  only  be  a  wild  scramble!" 

"Captain!  Who  will  fall  heir  to  the  immense  fur 
interests  and  trading  business  here?"  said  the  subordi 
nate. 

"Oh!  tJie  smartest,  as  the  Yankees  say,"  laughed 
Linieff,  for  he  had  been  brightened  up  by  friendly  inter 
course  with  the  American  navy  and  occasional  visits  to 
San  Francisco.  "Poor  Or/of!"  he  said,  as  he  turned 
away  to  his  boat,  "he  deserved  a  better  Jate!  Was  it 
some  wandering  British  or  American  thieves,  fur  hunt 
ers,  who  slew  this  man,  to  cover  their  presence?  No!" 
thought  the  generous  minded  officer,  "those  adventur 
ous  men  are  not  of  nations  that  boast  the  assassin's  trade! 
I  fear  it  was  some  dark  revenge!  Now,  could  Zubow" — 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  169 

he  dismissed  the  haunting  idea  with  a  frown,  as  he 
entered  his  waiting  boat!  "No!  He  was  three  thousand 
mi/i's  awav,  in  Khamschatka! " 

But  before  the  snows  pf  another  winter  crawled  down 
the  sides  of  Mount  Edgecumbe,  gallant  Linieff  was  pos 
sessed  by  an  innate  feeling  that  some  dastardly  crime 
lurked  behind  the  mystery  of  Fedor  Orlof's  untimely 
cutting  off !  The  rage  of  Serge  Zubow,  when  he  heard 
of  Olga  Orlof's  pardon  was  unbounded!  For  a  Grand 
Duke  of  Russia  lay  dead  now  in  a  foreign  land!  A  stately 
tomb  rose  over  the  Czarevitch  who  had  hung  enthralled 
on  Olga  Darine's  accents,  and  the  beautiful  woman, 
weeping  by  the  grave  in  the  exquisite  valley  of  Indian 
River,  was  free  in  her  widowhood  to  bring  her  unhcaled 
sorrows  back  to  fair  Europe!  The  mute  singer's  bonds 
were  loosened!  She  was  a  menace  to  the  Russian 
Crown  no  more! — 

As  she  plucked  the  first  wild  rose  blooming  over  the 
mound  where  Fedor  slept,  unmindful  of  the  thundering 
salute  of  the  "Rurik's"  guns,  Olga  Orlof  clasped  her 
friend  in  her  arms: 

"I  will  stay  here,  near  him,  with  you,  until — we  leave 
the  land  of  snows  and  sorrows  together!" 

"It  is  well!"  answered  Beatrice  Maxutoff,  "And  my 
Gregory  will  guard  your  interests,  for  Fedor's  note  boohs 
and  surveys  have  clearly  indicated  luckless  Treasure 
Island!  It  will  be  watched,  for  us,  for  you,  and  for, 
perhaps,  some  one  who  in  happier  years  may  learn  from 
you  that  to  a  dead  father's  sacrifice,  the  restored  fortune 
of  the  Orlof's  may  be  traced!" 


BOOK  II. 

UNDER  A  NEW  FLAG, 


CHAPTER  VI. 

BARANOFF'S  CASTLE  EN  FETE — THE  LAST  DAYS  OF  EMPIRE — 

THE  FOOT  OF  THE    STRANGER — HOMEWARD    BOUND 
—  "FRENCH  PETE." 

It  was  in  the  early  days  of  October,  in  the  year  of  our 
Blessed  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty- 
seven,  that  two  wistful-faced  women  gazed  seaward  from 
Baranoff  Castle  on  a  view  which  brought  the  bitter  tears 
of  the  past  to  mingle  with  the  joys  of  a  coming  release 
from  the  seclusion  of  years.  Below  the  old  stronghold, 
where  the  war  flag  of  the  Romanoff's  still  streamed  out 
defiantly  to  the  wind,  a  motley  fleet  lay  anchored!  The 
blood  red  flag  of  haughty  England  floated  on  the  chill 
afternoon  breeze,  and  near  it  sparkled  the  star  flag  of 
the  new  masters, — the  United  States  of  America! — 
There  were  several  stout  merchantmen  claiming  a  port 
welcome,  under  the  white,  blue  and  red  horizontal  tri 
color  of  Russia! 

"The  last  days  are  quickly  coming  to  us  now,  Olga!" 
said  Beatrice  Maxutoff.  "See!  There  is  the  American 
fleet!  "  The  Princess  handed  Countess  Orlof  the  glasses 
she  had  listlessly  toyed  with. 

"Gregory  will  be  pleased,  for  he  is  so  anxious  for  his 
relief!  The  bureau  duties  of  this  last  year  have  nearly 
exhausted  him.  It  would  have  been  so  different  if" 

171 


172  mi:  I'KixcESs  OF  ALASKA. 

The  gentle  Princess  paused,  for  from  the  favorite  win 
dow  station,  Olga  Orlof,  HIW  the  white  Countess,  fled  in 
haste,  as  her  ears  caught  the  sound  of  a  quavering  voice! 
The  cry  <>f  Fcdor  Orlof  s  fatherless  child! 

"It  is  nothing!"  simply  said  Countess  Olga,  "  he 
always  seems  to  prefer  >nc  to  his  nurse,  Katia." 

Below  them,  in  stately  procession,  the  American 
squadron,  the  heavy  steamers  "  Ossipee  "  and  "  Resaca," 
with  the  sturdy  old  sloop  of  war  "Jamestown"  in  tow, 
were  now  sweeping  silently  down,  their  men  at  the  bat 
teries,  and  every  port  open!  At  each  main  truck, 
the  red,  white  and  blue  streamer,  and  at  the  bow, 
the  blue  jack,  told  of  the  national  character.  Beside 
the  great  national  ensigns,  a  Commodore's  pen 
nant  told  that  courtly  McDougall  was  ready,  with  Cap 
tain  Emmons  and  Bradford,  to  accept  the  indefinable 
sovereignty  of  the  lonely  Behring  Sea,  so  long  battled  for 
stoutly  by  the  heirs  of  Peter  as  "mare  clausem!  " 

The  friends  gazed  in  silence,  as  the  stately  vessels 
dropped  anchor,  and  the  amphitheatre  of  Sitka  harbor 
echoed  back  the  thunder  of  the  Yankee  heavy  guns, 
saluting  for  the  last  time  Alexander  II,  in  his  prison  as 
Lord  of  Aliaska!  The  ladies  were  alone,  for  Prince 
Gregory  Maxutoff,  and  his  superior  officers  were  ready, 
in  glittering  regalia,  to  receive  and  return  the  punctili 
ous  visits  of  ceremony! — 

Though  anxious  at  heart  to  leave  the  narrowed  theatre 
of  the  woes  and  hardships  of  the  lonely  years,  Beatrice, 
beautiful  and  proud,  burst  into  tears,  as  the  guns  of  the 
new  masters,  in  measured  diapason,  told  that  the  Romance 
of  t lie  6>/</was  at  an  end! 

At  her  side,  a  growing  slip  of  fairy  girlhood,  bright- 
eyed  Irma,  longed  for  the  day  when  she  would  be  borne 
away  to  the  fabled  delights  of  Home!  The  star-eyed 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  173 

daughter  of  the  refined,  aristocratic  mother  was  to  be 
led  over  land  and  sea  to  the  glittering,  restless,  throb 
bing  life  of  great  St.  Petersburg! 

For  the  future  heiress  of  Treasure  Island  must  be 
nurtured  in  the  classic  seclusion  of  the  guarded  "  Cath 
erine  Institute,"  to  sparkle  as  a  jewel  of  the  living  orna 
ments  of  the  Imperial  Russian  Crown!  She  would  join 
that  fadeless  band  of  laughter-loving  maids  of  honor, 
whose  merry  voices  alone  wake  the  ominous  stillness  of 
the  Winter  Palace!— 

Across  the  heaving  sea  the  young  sisterhood  of  her 
high-born  kinswomen  was  calling  the  little  Arctic  snow 
Princess  home  to  a  wider  circle,  to  happier  hours,  to 
drink  in  future  years  of  that  sparkling  cup  of  bitter 
sweet, — Russian  Society  life  I — The  life,  gay  and  yet 
pathetic,  where  the  merriest  laugh  sinks  into  a  sob, 
where  smiles  and  tears  make  the  wintry  rainbows  of  the 
Neva! 

— The  town  was  now  full  of  eager  strangers,  who  had 
filtered  in,  awaiting  the  transfer.  A  sudden,  excited 
life,  a  mushroom  extension,  an  incoming  wave  of  the 
luxuries  of  the  shop-keeper  and  publican  startled  the 
stolid  soldiers  of  the  Czar,  the  half-breeds  and  human 
wrecks,  who  had  eddied  in,  and  also  filled  the  wonder- 
Aleuts,  Kalushes  and  Eskimo  with  awe! 

Prince  Gregory's  brow  was  now  deeply  furrowed,  his 
hair  streaked  with  silver,  and  his  eye  faded.  The 
loss  of  Fedor  Orlof  was  irreparable,  for  the  anxieties 
of  the  official  transfer,  the  fatiguing  ceremonies,  and 
the  great  responsibilities  of  his  Imperial  Master's 
properties  were  all  centred  in  him!  His  heart 
throbbed  with  haunting  daily  cares!  Three  millions 
of  dollars  in  the  fur  tribute  of  two  seasons  to  con 
vey  to  Russia,  around  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, — • 


174  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

the  care  of  garrisons, — the  moving  of  home-return 
ing  subjects  to  Alexander,  all  these  great  trusts 
weighed  upon  him!  The  impending  departure  from  his 
family,  added  to  his  anxieties,  for  beside  his  own  loved, 
Fedor  Orlof's  wife  and  e/ii/d  were  now  a  legacy  of  honor! 

"  I  hope  to  see  the  little  man  righted!  "  the  kindly 
Prince  would  say,  "  I  may  even  live  to  see  him  lead  his 
father 's  squadron  past  the  Czar  on  the  Field  of  Mars! 
He  deserves  to  come  to  his  own!  Strange,  that  Countess 
Olga  has  named  the  boy  Stephan!  The  head  of  the  old 
line!  It  will  serve  to  warn  the  poor  orphan  of  the 
dreadful  crash  of  passion's  deadly  storms!" 

But  the  beautiful,  pallid  widow  thought  alone  of  the 
past! 

"My  Fedor's  death  was  the  expiation  of  innocence!  A 
life  for  a  life!  It  was  all  he  had  to  give!  But,  in  this 
new  life  given  in  the  whiteness  of  unpolluted  infancy,  to 
the  Orlof  line,  may  the  sad  past  story  be  forever  buried! 
He  is  the  child  of  my  sadness!  Let  him  then,  be  named 
StepkanP 

Few  of  the  dignitaries  swarming  Sitka,  in  its  last  year 
of  Russian  sway,  sat  at  Gregory  Maxutoff's  board! 
True,  the  territory  swarmed  with  visitors,  noble  and 
mercantile!  There  seemed  to  be  a  mysterious  flicker  of 
Muscovite  activity  on  the  American  shore  of  the  ocean! 
Maxutoff  vaguely  distrusted  all  these  new  comers!  He 
however  opened  the  great  hall  to  lavish  hospitality,  but 
the  family  table  of  his  enclosed  mansion  was  guarded 
always  by  an  unbroken  reserve!  The  beautiful  wife  of 
the  Governor  General,  and  Irma,  the  fairy  of  Katalan's 
Rock,  were  known  to  all!  The  Princess  regularly  vis 
ited  the  officers'  families  in  the  garrison,  and  even 
labored  in  the  hospital;—**,  church,  she  was  continually 
seen,  with  her  daughter,  now  springing  into  girlhood's 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.-  175 

blossom! — The  Czar's  subjects  were  her  own  wayward 
children! 

But  to  the  new  comers,  the  white  Countess  Orlof  was 
only  a  mysterious,  beautiful  presence  denied  their  sight! 
True,  on  the  galleries  of  Baranoff  Caslle,  a  graceful 
form  was  seen  pacing  often,  but  always  gazing  seaward! 
The  devout  sentinels  watching  her  gliding  movements, 
would  cross  themselves  and  mutter: 

"  There  she  walks!  She  is  calling  him  home  from 
seal — The  white  Countess  /" 

Only  a  silver  haired  old  Russian  Admiral,  his  Emper 
or's  friend  as  well  as  faithful  warrior,  broke  into  the 
guarded  seclusion  of  the  year  of  mourning!  Bearer 
of  the  Czar's  final  mandates  and  last  orders,  he  sat 
long  hours  with  Prince  Maxutoff  in  his  cabinet 
room,  and  the  gay  veteran  was  the  ambassador  of  a 
gentle  stranger!  He  had  a  beloved  wife  and  dark-eyed 
laughing  Russian  daughters,  far  away  in  the  nest 
even  now  ready  for  his  retirement,  on  the  romantic 
shores  of  Finland,  and  he,  alone,  was  admitted  to 
the  family  life  of  the  Maxutoffs!  He  spent  happy 
hours  with  little  Irma,  a  fearless  sprite,  playing 
with  ribboned  star  and  order  glittering  on  the  manly 
breast,  which  he  had  so  often  bared  in  battle's  storm 
for  the  Czar!  The  Officers  of  the  Guard  started,  when 
on  the  gallery  now  known  as  "Countess  Olga's  Walk," 
the  silent  widowed  beauty  was  seen,  clinging  to  his  arm! 
It  was,  to  them,  a  miracle! — 

But  he  had  brought  secretly,  letters  to  her  from 
the  ardent  girl  who  ruled  now  in  Stephan  Orlof  s  great 
granite  palace  on  the  Admiralty  Quai!  It  may  be 
that  among  the  ladies  of  the  Empress,  some  deli 
cate  patrician,  clinging  to  Fedor  Orlof's  knightly 
memory,  had  told  sweet  Vera  Orlof  all  the  tangled 


176  1HK     I'KIN'CESS    OF 

intrigue  of  her  father's  death,  and  her  handsome 
uncle's  crime!  Perchance,  the  romantic  impulses  of 
her  own  friendless  youth  led  her  to  picture  the  face 
of  the  woman  for  whose  love  a  Czarevitch  sighed  in 
rain  /  Youth's  tender  heart  is  filled  with  the  sway 
ing  enthusiasm  of  sympathy!  The  proud  girl  may 
have  sorrowed  to  know,  the  last  Orlof,  the  future  head 
of  the  line,  a  helpless  dependent  on  the  bounty  of  a 
strange  friend,  raised  up  in  adversity! — There  were  long 
hours  of  private  conference, — and  many  days  when  the 
widowed  Olga  sat  communing  with  her  own  heart  by 
the  cradle  of  her  fatherless  child! 

Prince  Gregory's  eyes  were  mutely  expectant  of  some 
disclosure! — But  all  he  knew  was  that  there  were  no 
secrets  between  his  faithful  Beatrice  and  the  strangely 
met  sister  of  her  heart!  He  saw  in  an  exquisite  minia 
ture,  the  lovely  face  of  Countess  Vcrct  Orlof,  and  was 
touched,  with  an  unavailing  storm  of  sad  regrets,  to 
note  the  startling  likeness  of  the  Flower  of  St.  Peters 
burg  to  the  unhappy  man  who  died  alone  on  the  yet 
unspoiled  Treasure  Island! 

With  friendly  anxiety,  Prince  Gregory  listened  to  the 
murmur  of  the  gallant  old  Admiral's  voice,  in  earnest 
pleading, — and  to  the  soft  whispers  of  Olga's  answers! 
He  easily  divined  that  the  forgiving  and  generous- 
hearted  Countess  Vera  wished  to  make  amends  for  the 
sadness  of  the  past,  and  offer  to  her  new  kinswoman  the 
shelter  of  the  old  Orlof  palace.  He  was  fain  to  be  con 
tent  with  the  Admiral's  evident  great  respect  for  the 
widowed  Olga,  and  the  frank  friendly  cordiality  of  their 
intercourse.  But  her  proud  sorrow  was  silent!  He 
marked  the  hours  of  Olga's  labors  writing  at  her  desk, 
and  was  satisfied  when  his  steadfast  wife  said: 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  177 

"All  will  be  well, — they  will  grow  together  naturally 
in  the  happy  days  to  come!  " 

And  so  it  was,  that  only  on  the  Lord's  days  and  the 
great  festivals,  the  dwellers  of  Mount  Edgecumbe  knew 
that  the  lovely  mystery  still  lingered  among  them,  for 
then  there  was  a  veiled,  black-robed  figure  marked  seen 
silently  stealing  to  the  curtained  alcove  whence  the 
exquisite  singing  welled  forth  which  made  even  the 
rough  adventurers  murmur  in  astonishment!  A  mem 
ory  of  the  past,  a  prayer  for  the  future! — 

"It  is  the  voice  of  an  angel,1'  they  cried. — Olga  Orlof 
kneeling  alone  before  the  altar  of  the  silent,  deserted 
church  of  St.  Michael's,  could  almost  see,  when  she 
turned  to  go,  the  gallant  man  whose  heart  life  was 
linked  to  her  own  by  memory's  chords  forever!  For 
Fedor  seemed  to  stand  there  again  before  her,  brave, 
alert, — his  noble  face  glowing  with  the  tenderness  of 
loyal  love! — He  never  seemed  to  her  to  be  dead! — But 
only  sailing  far  away  on  that  unknown  sea,  where  lay 
' the  high  green  island,''  with  its  rocks  of  gold! 

After  the  friendly  Russian  Admiral  had  swept  away 
with  his  fleet,  Prince  Maxutoff  was  deeply  concerned  to 
receive  letters  from  him,  at  Kodiak,  from  the  Prybiloff's, 
from  the  Komandorski  group,  at  Plover's  Bay  and  far 
Khamschatka!  A  last  corvette  returning  brought  him 
these  confidential  warning  letters  from  his  friend!  He 
had  much  to  marvel  at!  Secure  now,  in  his  registered 
and  duly  entered  patent  for  the  Tako  River  grant,  the 
Governor  General  had  withdrawn  even  his  guard  posts 
from  the  vicinity  of  the  lonely  isle  where  Orlof  died. 
The  diary,  the  survey  note  books,  even  the  last  observa 
tions  from  the  hill  where  his  presence  was  unwittingly 
betrayed  to  the  assassins,  had  enabled  the  Prince  to 
enclose  all  the  gold-bearing  lands  in  the  formal  grant. 


178  THI-:   PRINVKSS   or1    lLA§i 

He  could  not  himself  leave  Sitka!  He  dared  not  now 
confide  to  others!  lie  had,  however,  sent  back  the 
stout  Lieutenant  of  the  "Baranoff,"  and  had  the  lonely 
island  searched  and  examined  for  any  traces  of  the  mur 
derers!  Storms,  however,  had  obliterated  all  the  tracks 
or  evidences  of  human  presence,  but  two  things  finally 
rewarded  the  search:  First,  the  proof  that  Orlof's  field 
glasses  and  sextant  had  been  carried  away!  And,  after 
examining  all  the  natives  with  due  caution,  the  discov 
ery  that  a  whalcboat  had  been  seen  cruising  in  Lynn 
Canal  at  the  time  of  the  murder!  There  was  no  whale- 
boat  at  all  with  the  "Baranoff!"  The  sole  explanation 
was  that  a  stranger  ship  had  touched  at  Admiralty  Island! 
The  ignorant  natives  could  tell  no  more  than  that  it  was 
not  a  "fire  ship," — but  a  "wind  ship!" — That  it  flew 
no  colors! — 

Who  manned  that  deadly  pirate? — The  query  was  a 
hopeless  one! 

Prince  Gregory  breathed  freely  to  know  his  hidden 
mines  were  undisturbed; — but  the  visit  of  the  whalcboat 
lingered  with  him  to  suggest  dark  suspicions!  A  mere 
marauder  would  not  have  taken  from  the  body,  only  the 
sextant  and  field  glasses.  Why  were  the  papers  and  his 
own  valuable  watch,  even  Orlofs  knife  left  untouched? 
Only  an  intelligent  person  would  have  stolen  the  glasses 
and  instrument!  Was  there  a  need  of  hurry?  Did  some 
one  conscience-stricken  assassin  fear  to  handle  the  help 
less  corpse? — Only  the  "Nevsky"  had  whaleboats, 
and  yett  it  was  surely  at  Khainschatka!— 

Other  grave  matters  pressed  daily  on  Prince  Maxu- 
toff's  mind. — The  town  of  Sitka  was  now  thronged  with 
eager-eyed  strangers  and  great  numbers  of  these  had 
reached  Tongass,  Fort  Wrangell,  Kodiak,  and  there  had 
even  been  the  visit  of  a  phantom-like  schooner  at  the 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  179 

Prybiloffs.  The  first  fur  seal  pirate!  The  harpies  were 
gathering!  The  Indians  were  found  to  have  been  sup 
plied  with  rum,  arms,  and  even  fresh  minted  American 
gold,  and  several  other  lawless  incursions  came  finally  to 
light! — The  mystery  was  heightened  when  the  Admiral's 
full  secret  dispatches  also  reported  later  that  several 
valuable  cargoes  of  seal  skins  had  been  carried  away 
from  the  Komandorski,  and  the  Prybiloff  Islands,  by 
two  unknown  vessels;  one,  a  heavy  whaler,  the  other,  an 
armed  brig,  filled  with  a  strange  medley  of  men  and 
flying  no  colors! — Landing  a  few  sailors  and  firing  random 
shots,  these  pirates  easily  drove  the  timid  natives  under 
cover,  and  after  robbing  the  unprotected  fur  magazines, 
and  slaughtering  some  thousands  of  seals,  had  sailed 
away! — Along  the  lonely  Siberian  coast,  the  wail  of  the 
plundered  natives  arose,  for  great  stores  of  whalebones, 
ivory  and  vast  values  of  the  rare  Khamsehatkan  furs  had 
been  also  looted  by  these  men,  who,  trading  drugged 
rum,  had  left  the  Tchuktches  and  Khamschatkans  to 
starve  despoiled  of  their  only  treasures  I— 
When  the  wearied  Prince  learned  from  his  own  dis 
patch  schooners  that  the  great  annual  native  gathering 
at  Icy  Cape  and  Blossom  Island  had  been  forcibly 
robbed  by  armed  men,  of  the  whole  stock  of  furs  gathered 
for  the  yearly  barter  between  the  natives  of  both  shores 
of  Behring  Straits,  he  was  astonished!  For  near  here, 
a  Kayak  can  cross  in  safety  from  Asia  to  America!  It 
was  by  this  easy  road  that  the  tartar  Asians  wandered 
over  to  be  the  sires  of  the  American  Indians  of  the  plains! 
"  I  could  perhaps  pierce  this  shadowy  mystery  if  old 
Shaman  Thorn  were  alive!  "  the  Governor  mused.  But 
the  wily  old  pagan's  great  funeral  totem  mast  stood  now 
high  in  air,  within  plain  sight  of  the  lonely  grave  of 
murdered  Fedor  Orlof,  on  the  romantic  banks  of  Indian 


l8o  NIL    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

River,  breaking  through  its  beautiful  glen  at  his  feet! 
The  old  Indian  chief  would  have  known  all  from  his 
faithful  runners!  "He  would  have  gleaned  the  story 
from  the  wild  confessional  of  his  uncouth  devotees!  " 
— thought  Maxutoff,  smoking  unnumbered  cigarettes  as 
he  gazed,  troubled  in  mind,  on  the  harbor  now  thronged 
with  foreign  trading  ships.  — "  The  secret  of  the  island 
is  buried  with  the  old  savage  chief  Thorn,  and  guarded 
only  by  Orlof's  pallid  ghost!  But  these  depredations 
are  ominous!  Thank  Heavens!  The  tribute  furs  are 
safe  here  under  our  strong  guard!  No  villany  can  reach 
them  I" — 

Alas!  Gregory  Maxutoff, — it  is  not  given  to  man  to 
read  the  futiu  r/ — nor  even  the  crime-stained  past  I  The 
Governor  General,  looking  toward  the  old  Indian  Chief's 
grave,  never  dreamed  of  how  easily  the  wily  old  savage 
had  lured  Fedor  Orlof,  unsuspectingly,  into  the  murder 
ous  hands  of  the  tenants  of  that  unknown  whaleboat! 
He  little  dreamed  that  one  keen-brained  scoundrel  knew 
the  golden  secret  of  the  island,  and  as  little  dreamed 
that  Serge  Zubow's  vast  network  of  schemes  was  now 
closing  in, — and  that  even  an  Emperor  could  be  robbed 
of  his  official  dues! 

"I  will  have  earned  the  enjoyment  of  the  happiest 
summer  of  my  life  when  I  rejoin  my  Beatrice,  after  I 
have  given  up  forever  the  keys  of  American  Empire 
here  for  the  great  Czar!  My  new  dignity  of  Prince  of 
Alaska  will  give  me  the  highest  recognition  in  Russia! 
Then,  with  skilled  artisans,  with  men  of  science,  with 
the  active  merchants  of  Moscow  and  Petersburg,  I 
will  open  the  mines  of  the  green  island.  My  task 
is  then,  after  all,  a  simple  one!  To  return  to  the 
American  capital  with  my  proofs  of  the  only  private  own 
ership  of  lands  here, — to  duly  register  the  grants  there, — 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  l8l 

and  have  them  officially  acknowledged!  I  can  then 
leave  the  gathering  of  the  golden  harvest  to  my  associ 
ates!  " 

As  courtly  Maxutoff  reclined  in  his  furred  chair  of 
state  he  mentally  arranged  his  closing  labors!  The 
visits,  ceremonies  of  welcome  and  fitting.reception  of  the 
American  officials, — the  arrangements  for  the  departure 
of  his  family, — the  settlement  of  the  great  Russian 
American  Company's  official  ledger  from  1799, — the 
turning  over  of  all  the  ports, — the  proper  dispatch  of 
the  returning  Russian  subjects, — lastly,  the  dispatch  in 
safety  of  the  two  great  cargoes  of  tribute  furs,  the 
matchless  spoil  of  years!—  "  After  all  is  over,  when  I 
know  that  my  dear  ones  and  their  guardian  angel  have 
safely  reached  Europe,  by  America; — I  will  post  home 
ward,  over  Siberia,  on  the  fastest  of  the  Imperial  spe 
cial  posts,  to  new  honors,  a  grateful  sovereign's  reward 
and  my  home  and  happiness\ — Th ere  will  be  the  crown 
of  my  labors!  And  the  treasure  island's  future  harvest 
will  be  safe!  " — The  Governor  General  dreamed  in  his 
sleep  of  an  Emperor's  flattering  notice  and  of  this  rosy 
future!  There  was  no  black  shadow  falling  over  the 
couch  of  state! — The  days  of  the  prophets  are  no  more! 

The  week  following  the  arrival  of  the  American  fleet 
was  filled  with  those  ceremonial  festivities  which  marked 
the  amity  of  the  two  great  powers  consummating  the 
sale  of  a  virgin  empire  for  seven  millions  dollars  in 
gold.  Side  by  side,  in  the  harbor,  the  Russian  and 
American  flags  floated  everywhere  in  a  friendly  riv 
alry. — Each  day  was  noted  for  the  arrival  of  steamer, 
sailing  vessel  or  dispatch  boat  laden  with  Ameri 
can  soldiers,  adventurers,  or  eager  merchants!  A 
crowd  of  idlers  soon  overran  the  quaint  old  town. — The 
sorrowing  Russians,  looking  back  to  the  time  of  the 
12 


l82  '     THE    PRINCESS    Ol     ALASKA. 

massacre,  when  the  Archangel  Gabriel  was  the 
patron  saint,  sadly  mourned  at  this  "  going  out"  to  far 
Russia,  under  the  patronage  of  the  unpatriotic  Archan 
gel  Michael!  The  hills  and  harbor  were  unusually  ani 
mated, — only  a  silence  lingered  where  the  great  blue 
and  white  banner  drooped  still  in  pride  over  Baranoff 
Castle! — Beyond  the  glittering  circle  of  the  American 
officers  bidden  to  a  welcoming  fete,  in  the  grand  old 
cedar  panelled  banquet  hall,  the  frowning  castle  was 
terra  incognita  to  the  new  comers! — Only  the  American 
Commander  himself  had  been  received  at  Prince  Max- 
utoffs  family  board.— In  the  general  rejoicing,  and  gath 
ering  in  of  these  loud-voiced  strangers,  a  few  loyal 
unhappy  hearts  mourned  on  the  bright  afternoon  of 
October  i8th,  1867,  when  the  whole  Russian  garrison 
was  marshalled  in  state  on  the  square  of  Sitka!  The 
soldiers,  citizens,  and  even  the  Indians,  in  gala  garb, 
were  assembled  to  hear  the  last  orders  read! — Prince 
Maxutoff,  with  a  brilliant  staff,  gave  the  momentous 
signal,  and,  as  the  guns  of  the  American  squadron  thun 
dered  out  a  national  salute,  the  gallant  Russian  garrison, 
from  shore  batteries  and  castle,  fired  their  last  salvo  in 
honor  of  their  Czar,  whose  flag  came  slowly  fluttering 
down  forever  from  the  great  castle  flagstaff ! — It  was 
done! 

As  the  firing  ceased,  and  the  blue  wreathed  smoke 
drifted  in  through  the  castle's  windows,  wistful  Princess 
Beatrice  clasped  the  '  white  Countess'  in  her  arms,  as 
she  turned  away  and  burst  into  tears! 

"We  are  all  strangers,  now,  Olga,  in  a  strange  land!  " 
the  gentle  lady  faltered,  as  the  music  of  the  "Star 
Spangled  Banner  "  proudly  floated  up  from  the  emerald 
bay!  The  American  ensign  was  waving  over  them 
now! 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  183 

"  In  a  week  we  will  be  on  our  way  to  San  Francisco, 
and  then,  homeward,  to  Europe !"- 

The  wife's  heart  was  sad  and  her  gentle  bosom  dis 
turbed! — 

"Have  you  decided  on  your  temporary  residence, 
Beatrice?"  said  Olga  Orlof,  with  a  marked  interest  in 
her  tone.— 

"  Yes!  Gregory  thinks  I  had  better  abide  at  Dresden, 
— with  his  relatives,  the  Butzows,  until  his  year  of 
bureau  work  and  settlements  is  done!  Then,  Irma's 
education  can  begin  at  once,  as  my  husband  wishes 
later  to  take  a  leave  of  absence  for  two  years. — After 
that,  retired  and  pensioned,  he  can  travel  abroad  and 
will  be  free  to  follow  up  the  development  of  island 
mine! " — 

The  princess  smiled  hopefully  as  she  spoke,  for  the 
only  return  of  the  schemes  of  toilsome  years  had  been, 
so  far,  poor  Olga  Orlof's  widowhood  I  Gold  at  the  price 
of  blood!  It  was  the  old  story! 

"  And  you?  Have  you  decided?  Will  you  take  up 
again  your  artistic  career?  " 

"I  will  abide  near  you,  near  our  darling,  Irma! " 
cried  the  lovely  widow.  "  I  have  some  private  matters 
which  may  call  me  away  for  a  time!  I  can  tell  you,  now, 
for  I  am  a  free  woman,  under  the  Stars  and  Stripes!  I 
need  not  show  myself  to  the  gaping  multitude  for  gold! 
— I  have  always  kept  my  secret,  but  since  my  little  Ste- 
phan  will  be  forced  to  take  up  the  burden  of  his  rank, 
by  and  by, — I  am  glad  that  my  mother 's  estates  in  Hun 
gary,  and  my  father's  lands  in  South  Russia,  will  make 
me  independent. — for  I  will  be  free  to  go  and  come  as  I 
list, — and  to  avoid  the  painful  scenes  of  the  Russian 
capital!  I  have  a  substantial  fortune — out  of  the  reach 
of  the  Czar's  strong  hand!  " 


14  THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA. 

"And  you  never  told  me  before?"  said  Beatrice, 
reproachfully. 

"I  had  no  need  to,  but  I  have  now  passed  into  free 
dom,  and  I  shall  at  once,  with  your  noble  husband's  aid, 
register  Count  Stephan  Orlof,  the  youngest  Russian 
nobleman  in  Aliaska,  and  also  avail  myself  of  the  facili 
ties  of  the  treaty  to  register,  and  return,  at  the  govern 
ment's  expense,  to  Europe!  I  cleave  to  you  also,  for 
these  reasons,  that  I  wish  Stephan,  my  fatherless  boy,  to 
finally  have  my  properties,  as  well  as  the  reversion  of  the 
Orlof  lands!  So  my  beloved  '  Heart's  ease,' — Olga  and 
her  little  Stephan  will  go  in  your  train  and  abide  with 
you  till  this  delightful  spirited  girl,  Vera,  who  writes 
me  so  warmly,  has  concluded  all  the  formalities  of  the 
proper  registry  of  our  hope,  the  baby  Count! — As  the 
Admiral  kindly  notifies  me,  she  will  come  at  once  to 
me,  for  it  might  be  awkward  to  have  the  meeting  at 
Petersburg.  And  you  can  then  be  God-mother  and 
witness  for  my  baby!  His  legal  papers  must  be  per 
fected  and  registered  in  Russia!"— 

"Ah!  You  are  generous,  dear  one!  You  are  trying 
to  only  blind  me  to  the  fidelity  you  have  promised  to 
my  Irma!  Happy  child!  with  two  loving  mothers!"— 
And  Beatrice  Maxutoff  went  to  her  duties,  and  the  cares 
of  the  preparations  for  travel,  happy  at  heart! 

"  Gregory  will  now  have  no  fear,  no  anxiety,  while  you 
are  with  me,"  was  her  last  thought. 

"I  have  not  forgotten  that!  I  never  will  forget  all 
that  I  owe  to  your  chivalrous  husband!"  smiled  Olga. 

That  princely  official,  on  the  great  square,  was  now 
marching  arm-in-arm  with  the  Commodore,  a  hero  of 
our  only  battle  day  in  Japan,  —  and  preceding  the  cortege 
of  fraternizing  officers  to  the  Castle,  where  he  was  fated 
to  deliver  up,  at  the  last  grand  banquet,  the  keys  of  the 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA,  l$$ 

fortress  and  magazines  to  the  American  commander. 
There  was  only  the  reservation  of  his  household,  inclosed 
mansion  and  the  sealed  double  warehouses,  where  faith 
ful  American  sentinels  now  watched  jointly  with  the  last 
Russian  guard!— 

On  the  great  platform,  the  guards  of  two  nations 
saluted  the  answering  commanders,  and  in  fete  and  was 
sail,  the  e"lite  of  the  friendly  forces  present  were  wel 
comed  at  the  Last  Feast  of  the  Czar!  For  Aliaska  was  no 
more!  It  was  now  Alaska!  The  Crown  of  Great  Britain, 
through  mere  diplomatic  jealousy,  had  lost  her  finest 
national  extension  of  empire  in  America! — 

Besides  the  gallant  wearers  of  epaulettes,  stars,  and 
medals,  and  the  courtly  sworded  chevaliers,  a  score  of 
civilian  gentlemen  of  the  two  nations  were  gathered 
together,  and,  even  the  Archbishop  in  his  purple  robes 
of  the  priesthood  of  Aaron,  with  all  his  flashing  dia 
monded  regalia, — gave  a  solemn  dignity  to  the  last  Mus 
covite  state  dinner! — 

The  music  of  the  joined  bands  of  the  American  and 
Russian  vessels,  waked  the  night  with  melodies  of  the 
lyric  stage,  the  dreamy,  delirious  waltz,  and  deathless 
harmonies  of  the  great  composers,  when  the  formality  of 
the  national  airs  had  ceased! — 

Beautiful  Olga  Orlof,  walking  the  halls,  felt  her  heart 
strangely  thrilled,  for  the  four  years  seemed  to  fade 
away!  She  was  again  on  the  scene!  She  saw  once  more 
the  vast  sea  of  faces,  the  fair  women  in  gems  and  shim 
mering  robes,  the  dazzling  circle,  the  Imperial  box  with 
its  bevy  of  attendant  patrician  beauties,  the  face  of  the 
dead  Prince  whose  passion  drove  her  to  these  lonely 
shores,  and  Fedor  Orlof  to  his  untimely  death!  Again, 
she  was  Marguerite,  struggling  to  free  herself  from  the 
clinging  garlands  thrown  her  by  the  delighted  audience, 


ib  THK     1'KIN.   .  i    \-  K  \. 

\\iKl  with  frantic  joy.  Th*  unreal  scenes  of  the  stage, 
ivcallrd  l>y  iiummv.  seemed  poor  and  thin,  to  th< 
trii.^'-ilies  of  lier  varied  suffering!  Utit,  walking  with 
fairy  Inna,  she  forgot  the  days  of  sorrow,  as  the  death 
less  music  touclied  her  heart  of  hearts!  With  a  start, 
she  woke  from  her  revery,  as  the  laughing  child  fled 
away  toward  tin-  magnificence  of  the  great  banquet. — 
The  Little  Princess  of  Alaska  claimed  her  own  rights  in 
her  own  land! 

"Irma,  stay  my  child!  Naughty  rover!"  she  cried,  in 
French,  as  her  charge  mischievously  danced  along. 

"  Permit  me  !  Madame,  to  restore  to  you  a  captive!" 
said  a  graceful  looking  youth  of  twenty,  speaking  to 
her  in  the  polite  idiom  of  the  Gaul. 

The  merry  girl  looked  at  the  dark,  mobile  face  of  the 
foreign  gentleman. 

"/  I  ike  you  I  You  shall  come  and  play  with  me,— like 
Uncle  l'\'dor :  " 

With  a  bow,  the  white  Countess  acknowledged  the 
friendly  stranger's  timely  help. — At  the  door  of  the 
banquet,  Arthur  Randolph  met  the  Commodore  and  the 
Prince,  who  were  alone  to  confer  on  some  future  mat 
ters.  They  sought  the  seclusion  of  the  inner  mansion, 
for  the  guests  were  waxing  jovial!  "It  was  merry  in 
hall,  and  the  beards  wagged  all!" 

"Do  I  go  on  board,  Uncle?"  said  the  youth. 

"Ah!  Arthur,  stay!"  cried  the  Commander  "Prince 
Maxutoff,  allow  me  to  present  my  nephew,  Arthur 
Randolph,  my  guest  on  this  voyage!  " — 

"A  soldier?"  kindly  said  the  Prince,  as  he  noted  the 
chivalric  bearing  of  the  young  man! 

"No;  an  artist  I"  answered  the  old  Commodore. 
"When  my  only  brother  was  killed  in  the  civil  war, 
Arthur  was  sent  abroad,  and  there,  the  galleries  and 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  187 

schools  of  Dresden  have  finally  turned  his  head!  He 
is  only  on  a  vacation  run  home." 

" Will  you  not  join  us?"  courteously  entreated  the 
hospitable  Prince. — 

And,  his  artist  soul  touched  by  the  apparition  of  the 
beautiful  stranger,  Arthur  Randolph  followed  the  great 
dignitaries  into  the  quaintly  luxurious  drawing-room, 
where  the  ladies  and  the  restored  truant  awaited  them. — 

While  the  Prince  and  the  Commodore  quietly  ar 
ranged  the  closing  masques  of  this  strange  meeting  of 
a  despotism  and  a  republic, —  in  illogical  amity,  the 
ladies  of  the  castle  learned  of  all  the  later  eddying  of 
European  fashionable  life  from  the  young  pilgrim 
artist. — They  found  Arthur  Randolph's  boyish  enthusi 
asm  a  graceful  harbinger  of  their  return  to  civilization. 
—His  full  brow,  speaking  eyes  and  flowing  silken  hair, 
the  easy  costume  of  the  student  traveller;  and  his  bright 
word-sketches  of  the  sparkling  kaleidoscopic  life  of  the 
continent,  were  the  marks  of  a  fairly  Prince! — 

For  four  long  years,  the  stolid  soldiers,  stilled  officers 
and  obsequious  subjects  of  the  Czar  had  been  their 
only  entourage.  —  For  the  common  sailors  and  rude 
vicious  natives  were  mere  human  apes  to  the  lonely 
women. — Both  of  them  knew  too  well  every  thought  of 
the  careworn  Governor,  whose  daily  troubles  were  the 
only  novelty  since  Fedor  Orlof's  ringing  voice  had 
stilled  forever. — It  was  a  welcome  diversion!  A  fore 
taste  of  a  re-entry  into  the  continental  life  of  Europe. — 

With  the  pretty  child  at  his  side,  Arthur  Randolph 
told  of  the  latest  happenings  in  Europe, — of  the  golden 
loveliness  of  the  matchless  Empress  Eugenie,  the  coming 
glories  of  the  Paris  Exposition,  and  all  the  small  talk 
of  the  salon,  the  foyer  and  the  studio! — He  was  a  bright 
herald  of  the  morning  of  polite  Life  soon  to  break 
in  joy. 


1 88  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

"And  what  tempted  you  to  the  land  of  the  Northern 
Lights?"  gracefully  asked  Princess  Beatrice. 

"Ah!  Your  Highness!  My  sketchbook  is  filled  with 
the  wonders  of  this  matchless  gateway  to  the  Arctic!— 
I  joined  my  uncle  for  this  purpose  only,  on  his  telegram 
to  me  at  New  York! — I  must  return,  for  my  first  picture 
goes  to  the  Exhibition  next  year! — I  had  hoped  to  make 
the  full  round  to  Kodiak,  but  I  will  go  down  on  the  first 
dispatch  steamer  with  the  news  of  the  transfer.  I  must 
return  to  my  studio.  —  Art  is  a  jealous  mistress!"  he 
smiled. — 

"We  shall  meet,  I  hope,  in  Dresden,  then!  "  said  the 
white  Countess,  "for  Princess  Maxutoff,  her  child  and 
myself  leave  as  soon  as  we  can  get  a  Russian  vessel. 
We  will  settle  there  !  "— 

"And  you  will  paint  my  picture?"  challenged  dainty 
Irma. 

"Ah!"  said  the  artist  wanderer,  "if  the  Countess 
Olga  would  only  permit  me  to  essay  her  face, — it  would 
ensure  >n\  fortune!"  — 

Years  after,  Arthur  Randolph  recalled  Olga's  sudden 
pallor,  as  she  hastily  said:  "  No!  no!  my  friend!  let 
this  dainty  spring  blossom  lead  you  onward  and  upward 
into  fame!  Not  my  sad  features!  " — 

With  ready  bonhomie,  Prince  Maxutoff  hailed  the 
prospect  of  a  Dresden  meeting.  Arthur  knew  well  the 
stately  Butzows,  who  were  the  stars  of  the  brilliant 
Russian  coterie.  The  pensioned  diplomat  was  a  local 
grandee. — 

The  Governor  cordially  said: 

"You  must  be  our  frequent  visitor  here  in  the  old 
hall  till  you  sail.  —  I  shall  venture  to  charge  you  with  a  few 
advance  commissions!  " 

Randolph,    with    boyish    eagerness,   gladly   assented! 


PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  ig 

As  they  descended  the  stony  stair,  the  marvellous  beauty 
of  Countess  Olga  Orlof  haunted  the  young  artist.— 

"I  must  paint  her! — <  Mary  of  Scotland  meeting  Riz- 
zio,'— '  Paolo  and  Francesca,' — «  A  Venetian  Night,'  she 
robed  as  a  Duchess, — this  innocent  Lucretia  showering 
roses  on  a  lover  whose  voice  thrills  the  night,  from  a 
gondola  drifting  beneath  her  casement, — and  all  these 
visions  of  storied  beauty  thronged  his  brain,  while  the 
stout  old  Commodore  watched  uneasily  his  ships,  with 
a  sailor's  practical  ideas  of  squalls,  currents  and  drag 
ging  anchors. — 

The  town  was  in  a  Walpurgis  night  festival! — Bon 
fires,  surging  groups  of  rioters  of  varied  nationalities, 
Indian  jugglers,  fraternizing  polyglot  convicts,  all  rum- 
exhilarated,  with  here  and  there  a  few  amused  sober 
lookers  on,  of  a  higher  grade.— 

"I  will  make  a  few  mental  notes  of  this  mad  throng 
for  character  sketches,  Uncle,"  said  the  romantic  young 
artist,  his  fancy  kindled  by  the  bizarre  sights  of  the  gala 
night.— 

"Well,  I  will  go  on  board,  but  Arthur,  I  leave  you 
old  Benson,  here,  as  a  volunteer  orderly. — See  here!  Boat 
swain!  You  will  watch  this  madcap  lad,  and  do  not  let 
him  go  astray!" 

The  old  salt  tugged  at  his  cap. 

"Ay,  ay,  sir!  I  know  the  landfall  here!  Been  up 
here  on  the  old  '  St.  Mary's'  twenty  years  ago." 

And  the  satisfied  Commander  sought  the  stately  repose 
of  his  cabin! — 

"By  Heaven!  I  must  paint  the  Countess!  I  can  wait, — 
for  I  wish  the  glow  of  light  and  happiness  playing  on  her 
exquisite  face."  Arthur  Randolph  recked  not  of  the 
onely  grave,  where  the  wild  rose  petals  drifted  down, 
by  far  Indian  River's  cypress  point. 


1QO  THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA. 

"Hello!  Just  the  man  I  Arthur,  you  are  a  Godsend 
to  me  here!"  cried  a  man  who  had  been  idly  watching 
the  changing  human  medley.  The  speaker  grasped 
Randolph's  hand  eagerly. 

"Well,  Bradford!  You  are  a  long  distance  from 
Bohemia!  Do  you  open  a  daily  newspaper  office  to 
morrow?  This  is  surely  American  enterprise," — laughed 
Randolph,  shaking  hands. 

"Hush!  old  fellow; — I  wish  no  one  to  knoiv  me  here'. 
Walk  down  on  the  beach  with  me  a  moment." 

The  speaker  was  a  man  of  thirty,  his  broad  brow, 
neat  moustache,  quick  eye,  ready  speech  and  air  of 
adaptability  spoke  of  journalism  in  every  feature. 
There  was  but  one  repellant  feature  in  Paul  Bradford's 
conventional  bonhomie.  He  never  looked  his  listener 
squarely  in  the  eye!  His  smooth-shaven  cheek,  with 
its  peculiar  pallor, — spoke  of  the  gambler's  vigils. 

In  his  laughing  nonchalance,  Bradford  would  say 
"My  cigars  are  the  choicest  on  the  coast,  I  can  not 
afford  to  drink!  That  folly  is  reserved  for  millionaires, 
crowned  heads  m&  fools!" — 

A  restless,  wicked,  ready,  relentless  schemer,  a  man 
of  a  marvellous  memory,  and  a  photographic  eye,  Paul 
Bradford  exhaled  the  intense  mental  activity  of  New 
York's  newspaper  row. — Cold-hearted,  bright,  suave, 
ingratiating,  and  ever  watchful,  his  daily  life  was  intrigue, 
his  ruling  passions,  women  and  cards  I— At  the  bottom  of 
every  Pacific  coast  intrigue  of  note,  he  was  found  as 
journalist,  spy,  go-between  and  adventurer! — 

Dropping  into  San  Francisco  unheralded,  he  was 
known  there  soon  as  a  man  of  expedients,  resolute,  and 
reasonably  honest,  when  well  paid!  Not  more  than  a 
half  dozen  times,  the  ugly  word  "blackmail"  has  been 
used,  in  naming  him,  under  a  breath, — for  Paul  Bradford, 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  IQl 

not  quite  a  gentleman,  was  keen  enough  to  know  when 
to  fight,  and  was  always  armed  !  His  San  Francisco 
habit  of  being  conspicuously  seen  with  certain  great 
bankers,  operators,  politicians  and  officials,  gave  him  a 
local  importance, — his  own  industry  and  unflagging 
mental  activity  did  the  rest. 

Arthur  Randolph  had  easily  fallen  in  with  Paul  Brad 
ford  at  the  Occidental  Hotel,  over  a  practice  game  of 
billiards,  in  which  Bradford's  cool  calculation  was  as 
marked,  as  in  his  all  night  poker  games  with  judges, 
senators  and  the  mushroom  rising  millionaires!  But 
a  dim  suspicion  of  irregularity  in  his  life  made  his 
friends  wary  of  taking  Paul  Bradford  to  their  homes. 
His  conversation,  elocution  and  unvaried  politeness 
however  won  the  hearts  of  the  ladies  he  casually  met! — 
"  How  did  you  come  up?"  eagerly  demanded  Brad 
ford. 

The  old  man  o'  war's  man   eyed  them  closely,    for  he 
already  had  classed  Paul  as  a  suave  gambler. 
"Looks  too  slick"  the  sailor  growled. 
"  I  am  with  my  Uncle  on  the  flagship,"  Arthur  simply 
answered. 

"By  Jove,  Arthur,  I  must  get  a  pass  to  go  up  to 
Kodiak!  Now,  your  Uncle  will  do  anything  for  you! 
You  can  fix  this  for  me!  //  is  vital  to  me!" 

"I  am  sorry,  Bradford,"  slowly  said  the  artist,  "I 
am  going  down  the  coast  in  a  few  days. — Now,  my 
Uncle  is  a  stern  disciplinarian,  and  has  orders  to  allow 
no  journalist  on  the  fleet.  I  owe  all  my  career  to  him. 
I  could  not  honestly  ask  this  of  him!  Anything  else, 
but  not  that!  I  go  on  straight  home  to  Dresden. "- 

Bradford  held  out  his  cigar  case.  The  moon  lit  up 
the  forest  of  masts,  and  the  colored  battle  lanterns  on 
the  war  ships  gleamed  brightly.  From  the  fragrant 


1 92  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

pines,    the    night-breeze    swept    down,    and    the  waves 
broke  gently  at  their  feet. — 

"I'll  tell  you  all,  Arthur!  I  have  now  the  chance  of 
a  lifetime!  I  am  nominally  here  for  a  great  New  York 
journal; — /'/  is  not  so  in  fact! — Every  banker,  trader, 
miner, .  land  shark  and  schemer  in  California  wants  a 
finger  in  this  new  Alaska  deal!  There  are  fisheries,  fur 
interests,  trading  privileges,  the  seal  islands,  and  a 
whole  lot  of  rich  plums  here. — But  the  territory  must 
be  first  organized. — The  great  ring  at  San  Francisco 
comprises  about  twenty  well-known  powerful  men.  It 
is  useless  to  run  counter  to  them!  They  know  what 
they  want,  and  when  to  act!  Their  interests  are  always 
held  safe!  They  buy  up  Senators  and  even  Secretaries! 
Now,  I  came  here  for  them  on  a  special  secret  mission! 
I  must  reach  Kodiak  to  meet  a  fellow  there,  who  knows 
a  secret  of  vast  importance!  He  has  been  for  years  a 
Russian  convict!  He  used  to  be  a  naval  officer!  His 
time  expired  this  summer.  But  he  is  watched  and  -v;/ 
not  get  away!  I  can  aid  you  to  a  slice  of  this  future 
fortune!  But  I  must  get  on  to  Kodiak!  I  must  help 
this  man  away  from  his  surroundings  now!"- 

Arthur  Randolph  hesitated,  Bradford's  innate  in 
sincerity,  the  cold  heartlessness  of  his  real  nature,  was 
potent  at  a  giance  to  the  refined  young  artist,  whose 
generous  soul  shrank  from  all  scheming!  Paul  Bradford 
mistook  his  hesitation  for  cunning!  He  decided  at  once 
on  a  bold  stroke. — To  place  Arthur  under  the  sea!  of 
friendly  confidence! — 

"Now,  listen!  This  man  is  called  « French  Pete." 
He  has  been  a  man  of  some  rank.  He  drinks,  like  all 
men  of  varied  fortunes.  I  have  been  selected  to 
negotiate  with  him,  for  my  backers  know  that  I 
touch  a  drop!  " 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

Bradford's  teeth  flashed  white  as  a  wolf's  in  the 
moonlight.—  . 

"You  are  my  last  chancel  I  have  money,  credit,  full 
latitude!  This  fellow  knows  of  the  existence  of  an 
island  of  almost  solid  gold!  It  was  discovered  by  a 
Russian,  who  is  dead!  Pete  can  not  trust  some  powerful 
Russians  he  has  been  controlled  by.  They  would  outwit 
him!  He  dare  not  remain  a  Russian  subject.  The 
American  military  are  soon  going  up  to  take  possession! 
He  is  very  poor. — If  I  can  smuggle  him  down  to  San 
Francisco,  I  can  keep  him  th^.re  till  we  get  a  title  to  the 
land,  have  him  under  control,  and  when  he  shows  us 
the  place,  secure  it,  later!  Now,  can  I  see  you  in  the 
morning  ? —  This  is  private!  " 

Arthur  Randolph  was  fain  to  yield  and  escape.  The 
next  morning  Serge  Zubow's  "Nevsky"  lay  under  the 
guns  of  the  "Ossipee!" 


IQ4  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

PAUL  BRADFORD  OUTWITTED — THE  EMPEROR'S  FURS — A  VOL 
UNTEER  PURSER'S  ASSISTANT — GOOD  HYE  SWEET 
HEART —  IN    TWO    CAPITALS— THE    PRINCESS 
OF    ALASKA    LEAVES    HER    REALM! 

Before  the  sleepy  denizens  of  Sitka  had  recovered 
from  the  Grand  Fete  of  the  Two  Flags,  the  harbor  was 
a  scene  of  unwonted  activity.  A  temporary  United 
States  customs  official  had  noted  the  arrival  of  the  Rus 
sian  merchant  ship  "  Nevsky,"  with  its  princely  owner, 
Serge  Zubow,  on  board,  as  well  as  the  American  whaler 
"  Reindeer,"  which  had  put  in  for  water,  supplies,  and 
also  to  land  several  sailors  wounded  in  a  matinee  spent 
with  a  fighting  "bowhead"  whale. — In  the  stream, 
beside  the  American  fleet,  a  stout  Russian  sailing  ship 
and  a  heavy  bark  rode  high  on  the  still  water!  A  crowd 
of  half  drunken  natives  were  shovelling  canoe  loads  of 
rock  ballast  in  these  vessels.  Their  gleaming  copper 
showed  high  in  air,  for  they  were  all  empty!  Besides 
the  government  archives  and  valuables,  and  the  national 
property  which  a  proud  Emperor  would  not  sell,  the 
two  most  precious  fur  cargoes  ever  risked  on  the  deep, 
awaited  these  staunch  boats!  The  days  of  Prince 
Gregory  Maxutoff's  official  power  were  at  an  end!  No 
longer  Governor,  he  was  only  by  courtesy  the  represen 
tative  in  the  new  American  domain  of  Alaska,  of  the 
distant  Czar!  He  toiled  at  the  lading  of  the  fur  ships, 
while  his  lovely  consort,  with  her  busy  retinue,  was  dis 
mantling  the  private  mansion  walled  in  the  official 
castle.  With  great  delicacy,  the  Commodore  had  estab- 


THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA.  195 

lished  his  headquarters  near  the  official  wing,  on  shore, 
so  as  to  prevent  all  prying  intrusion.— 

Arthur  Randolph,  -sketch-book  in  hand,  wandered 
over  the  pine-clad  hills,  or  surrounded  by  the  ladies, 
and  ruled  by  laughing  Irma, — the  dainty  princess  of 
Alaska;  transferred  the  wonderful  Archipelago  vista  to 
his  growing  album!  With  furtive  slyness,  he  watched 
the  beautiful  woman,  now  thoughtfully  musing  on  the 
future,  as  she  flitted  along,  a  sweet  apparition,  on 
"Countess  Olga's  walk."  She  was  sketched  in  every 
exquisite  variation  of  her  beauty,  as  she  moved  in  sin 
uous  grace  along  the  gallery!  Pretty  Irma's  face  already 
gleamed  from  a  small  canvas,  destined  to  cheer  Prince 
Gregory  in  the  long  months  of  absence,  while  busied 
finally  transferring  the  upper  posts  and  islands,  or  trav 
ersing  lonely  Siberia! — Even  on  his  return  to  Russia,  he 
must  spend  a  long  winter  alone  at  Petersburg,  in  his 
final  accounting, — while  his  household  gods  reached 
Odessa,  via  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. — 

The  last  days  rapidly  ran  along  in  varied  activity. 
For  at  any  moment,  several  steamers  with  heavy  detach 
ments  of  veteran  United  States  soldiery  were  expected. 
They  would  follow  on  after  Prince  Maxutoff,  receiving 
the  different  posts! — 

The  most  anxious  heart  in  Sitka  was  now  that  of  the 
fair  Countess  Olga! — Under  the  personal  escort  of  the 
Russian  depot  Colonel,  she  sat  often  by  the  wild,  lonely 
spot  where  Fedor  Orlof  slept  unforgotten.  The  bright- 
faced  young  artist,  with  sympathetic  touch,  transferred 
each  glowing  tint  and  tender  shade,  in  a  memorial  pict 
ure.  For,  with  his  thoughtful  delicacy,  Gregory  Maxu 
toff  had  arranged  to  send  home  on  a  later  war  vessel, 
which  would  convey  the  artillery  of  all  the  batteries  to 
Russia,  the  remains  of  the  murdered  noble.  -  Olga  knew 


IQ6  THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA. 

from  Beatrice  Maxutoff  that  not  a  trace  of  the  myste 
rious  whaleboat  had  ever  been  discovered. — Her  woman 
heart  shuddered  at  the  unwelcome  presence  of  Serge 
Zubow,  but  he  was  forced  to  limit  his  shore  visits  to  the 
church  establishment. — And  even  there  the  priests  were 
now  afraid  of  the  sinister  Tartar!  Olga  knew  that  Prince 
Gregory  had  sternly  refused  all  personal  intercouse, 
alleging  the  termination  of  his  own  official  functions.— 
With  quiet  aversion,  and  secure  in  their  height,  the  cir 
cle  of  Baranoff  Castle  waited  patiently  for  Zubow's 
departure. — 

The  Governor  General  would  have  started  in  affright 
had  lie  known  of  the  dark  designs  of  the  keen  scoundrel 
and  his  confederates,  far  and  near.  Wistful  Olga  Orlof, 
now  busied  with  her  sturdy  little  one,  little  dreamed  that 
the  whaleboat  now,  hanging,  in  plain  sight,  on  the 
"Nevsky"  had  bounded  over  the  surf  of  Admiralty 
Island  with  Orlof 's  red-handed  escaping  murderers! 

But,  nursing  his  rage  and  disappointment,  the  prying 
Paul  Bradford  vainly  sought  to  ingratiate  himself  with 
the  officers  of  the  fleet!  He  was  foiled  at  every  turn. 
The  marine  guard  on  board  sternly  stopped  every  one, 
as  the  fleet  was  about  to  sail  for  the  northern  ports  and 
islands.  A  positive  written  pass,  from  all  persons  not 
in  the  naval  service,  was  demanded.  And  Paul,  the 
sleuth-eyed  veteran  of  many  a  dark  intrigue,  chafed  at 
his  inability  to  use  Arthur  Randolph's  influence  with 
the  Commodore.  " //  is  use/ess,"  finally  replied  the 
artist,  "  my  uncle  has  told  me  that  until  all  the  property 
is  transferred,  and  the  Russian  American  Fur  Com 
pany  s  property  inventoried,  no  private  person  can  go 
from  ship  to  shore.  Major-General  Jefferson  C.  Davis 
will  soon  arrive  and  establish  a  system  of  coast  police 
and  passes.  Then,  you  may  call  on  him!  " — 


THE    PRlNCtSS    Of   ALASKA.  197 

"But,  Arthur,  the  man  I  seek  may  be  then  gone!  He 
may  wander  away  in  his  Gallic  restlessness  and  be  lost 
to  me  forever!  " 

Bradford  was  a  stubborn  tempter.— 

"I  will  help  you  to  a  solid  fortune!  I  must,  I  will 
reach  this  man!  " — 

"Paul!"  said  Randolph,  firmly,  tt  I  like  you!  In  the 
changing  waves  of  life,  you  have  been  tossed  on  many 
shores!  I  admire  your  dash  and  endeavor!  But  I  am 
not  free  to  act! — I  can  not  impose  on  my  uncle's  official 
responsibilities,  even  unwittingly!  You  must  fight  your 
way,  under  the  northern  lights  alone!" — 

While  they  talked,  seated  in  one  of  the  drinking 
booths  the  tall  form  of  Mate  Aleck  McMann  was  seen, 
as  he  parted  from  Prince  Serge  Zubow,  at  the  door. 
Zubow  lifted  his  hat  to  the  young  artist  whom  he  had 
met,  sketching  the  picturesque  interior  of  the  quaint, 
dim,  old  church  of  St.  Michaels. 

"  Who  is  that?"  said  Bradford  eagerly. 

"This  gentleman,  Prince  Zubow,  has  a  Russian  trad 
ing  ship  in  the  harbor,  of  his  own." 

"Will  you  present  me  to  him?"  cried  the  journalist, 
eagerly. 

"  Certainly!  "  said  Randolph,  glad  to  be  relieved  of 
Paul's  importunities. 

He  followed  the  tall  Russian  noble,  who  was  moodily 
gazing  at  the  fantastic  curios  and  tawdry  Indian 
wealth  of  the  bazaars. 

"  Do  you  belong  to  the  American  whaler?  "  said  Brad 
ford,  edging  up  to  the  raw-boned  young  mariner  who 
stood  at  the  bar. 

" That's  my  ship!"  answered  McMann,  eyeing  the 
speaker  keenly. 

13 


19  in.  01    ALASKA, 

"  Where  do  you  go  from  here?"  continued  Bradford, 
offering  a  cognac  in  token  of  amity. 

"We  go  up  to  Kodiak  to  get  some  native  walrus 
hunters  and  ice  pilots,  and  then  make  a  last  round  to  the 
edge  of  the  ice  after  walrus  and  bowheads,  after  that 
down  to  San  Francisco." 

"  I  must  go  to  Kodiak  at  once.  Do  you  sail  soon?  " 
eagerly  continued  Bradford.  "Money's  no  object!  Will 
you  take  me  up  there?  " 

"  What's  your  business?  "  frankly  demanded  the  gray- 
eyed  mate. 

"  I  will  explain  \^  private!      Do  you  know  Kodiak?  " 

The  adventurer  was  eager. 

"  I  may  make  this  fellow  hunt  my  wandering  «  French 
Pete.'" 

"  I  have  been  there  every  winter  for  fifteen  years!  I 
was  landed  there  when  the  bloody  pirate  '  Shenandoah  ' 
burned  our  whalers  after  Lee  surrendered." 

"Where  can  I  see  you?  P II  put  money  in  your  pocket  " 
whispered  Bradford,  as  he  saw  Randolph  and  Prince 
Zubow  returning. 

"  I'll  send  a  boat  ashore  tonight  at  the  landing!  Just 
say  you  want  to  see  me, — say,  eight  o'clock." 

The  sailor  nodded  and  lounged  out. 

"Now  what  is  this  fellow  nosing  around  for?  "  mused 
McMann.  He  is  too  sly!  The  agent  of  some  San  Fran 
cisco  capitalist!  I'll  bleed  him  first,  and  then  fool 
him!"— 

"He  is  a  Godsend  to  me,  this  mariner!  "  gleefully 
cried  Bradford,  as  he  joined  at  a  signal,  the  handsome 
artist  and  the  brawny  Tartar  Prince. 

Serge  Zubow  welcomed  the  new  acquaintance  and 
offered  to  the  young  gentlemen  the  cabin  hospitalities  of 
the  'Nevsky."  Bradford  eagerly  accepted,  while  Ran- 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  IQ9 

dolph,  now  devoted  to  the  castle  circle,  gracefully 
excused  himself  from  a  dinner  on  Zubow's  vessel.— 

As  the  new  made  friends  skimmed  away  in  Zubow's 
waiting  boat,  Arthur  Randolph  heaved  a  sigh  of  relief. 

*'  Paul  seemed  to  have  a  good  circle  of  club  friends  at 
'the  bay,'"  mused  the  artist,  as  he  climbed  Kulalau's 
height,  "yet  I  dislike  his  wily  manners,  his  modulated 
self-repression!  There's  a  bit  of  the  sneak  in  him  some 
where!  And,  what  really  brings  him  here?  Some  con 
templated  swindle  on  the  United  States  Government! 
This  great  realm  is  a  tempting  bait  now  to  every  cool 
shark  in  the  financial  circles  of  the  west!" 

While  the  afternoon  breeze  lazily  moved  the  new  flag 
on  Baranoffs  stronghold,  Bradford  over vodki,  cigarettes 
and  matchless  Russian  tea,  deftly  plied  Prince  Zubow 
with  questions.  He  gleaned  a  general  fund  of  Arctic 
gossip  legends  of  the  wild  Tunguses  and  Gillaks,  tales 
of  the  fierce  Solievief,  and  stories  of  the  western  sweep 
of  the  Imperial  yellow  flag  of  conquest,  with  its  black 
double  eagles  crimsoned  in  the  blood  of  the  affrighted 
natives.  But,  cunning  of  fence  as  he  was,  Bradford 
could  not  fathom  Zubow's  purposes,  his  destination  or 
real  functions. 

"I  have  interests  from  Nova  Zembla  to  Corea,  and 
from  Icy  Cape  to  the  Yenesei  and  Lena!  Siberia  is  a 
great  frozen  treasure  house  of  gems,  fossil,  ivory,  gold 
and  minerals!  Timber,  fisheries,  furs  and  millions  of 
acres  of  arable  land  are  there!  The  smile  of  the  Siber 
ian  summer,  woos  a  dainty  luxuriance  of  harvest  to  life! 
And  it  is  from  its  mystic  forests  that  the  great  wave  of 
Tartar  conquest  swept  to  Pekin,  to  India,  and  to  the  far 
Caspian!  The  hoofs  of  the  wild  horses  of  Genghis  Khan 
trampled  the  bravest  Asiatic  and  European  bosoms. 
The  spirit  of  wild  bravery  thrills  in  our  very  breezes, 


200  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

sweeping  from  the  unconquered  altar  of  the  Polar  Ice 
King,  whose  gleaming  colors  stream  in  the  northern 
lights."— 

Bradford  was  rebuffed,  as  Zubow  politely  declined  to 
take  him  farther  north  and  land  him  on  the  Aleutian 
Islands. 

"My  cruise  depends  on  varied  circumstances,"  he 
laughed,  and,  as  Bradford  was  rowed  away,  the  Prince 
cast  a  sinister  glance  at  the  "circumstances!  " —The 
two  great  fur  ships  now  laden  to  the  gunwale  with  the 
tribute  torn  from  the  suffering  Eskimo,  and  debauched 
Aleuts! 

In  all  the  transfer  of  ' '  eminent  domain,"  the  plunder  of 
the  helpless  natives  was  not  to  be  interrupted!  It  was 
but  a  change  from  one  master,  to  many  I  But  the  fur 
ships,  with  their  slender  crews,  unarmed,  and  only  pro 
tected  by  the  dignity  of  the  Czar's  name. — 

Zubow  laughed:  "  I  would  like  to  see  this  fool  Max- 
utoff's  face,  when  he  is  asked  to  account,  next  year,  for 
these  millions  in  glossy  skins! — We  cannot  fail!  For 
Phillippi,  Fersen  and  myself  have  fenced  the  field  in, 
and  our  concealed  employes  will  do  our  bidding." 

Far  different  to  the  great  roomy  "Nevsky"  was  the 
housed  "  Reindeer,"  its  deck  littered  with  coal,  trypots, 
whaling  gear,  spare  boats,  and  trading  goods. — Rows  of 
barrels  filled  with  vile  trading  whisky  were  ready  for  its 
final  barter  with  the  natives,  already  slaves  to  King 
Rum  !— 

In  the  little  ill-furnished  cabin,  crowded  with  arms 
and  gear,  Aleck  McMann  fenced  politely  with  his  guest 
over  brandy  and  cigars.  It  was  an  hour  before  Brad 
ford  thought  that  the  invisible  spirit  of  wine  had  thor 
oughly  warmed  McMann's  heart.  The  grey-eyed  sailor 
lay  back  like  a  basking  shark,  waiting  for  Bradford's 
ultimate  proposals. — 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  2OI 

Finally,  he  directly  approached  McMann! — "What 
will  you  charge  me  to  land  me  at  Kodiak?  " 

There  was  a  moment  of  silence. 

11 1  can  take  you  up  there,  but  I  dare  not  land  you!" 
said  the  sailor.  "  The  Commodore  orders  us  to  take  a 
guard  of  two  marines  on  board  to  see  that  no  one  leaves 
the  ship!  I  do  not  know  what  they  fear!  And  I  might 
not  be  able  to  put  you  ashore,  for  we  stand  off  shore  on 
our  cruise." 

"Will  you  take  a  letter  for  me  and  find  a  man  there, 
and  give  him  some  money  and  supplies  forme?"  Brad 
ford  had  grown  anxious.  His  last  chance  was  slipping 
away  now. 

"What's  the  nature  of  the  business?  Smuggling?  I 
can  take  no  risk  for  my  ship!"  The  sailor  was  wary  of 
fence. 

"I  can  not  explain  the  affair, — but  I  will  pay  you  well 
to  find  my  man!  " 

"Who  is  he?"  said  the  simple  looking  sailor,  as  he 
refilled  the  glasses. 

"He  is  an  ex-convict,  slowly  said  Bradford,  "his 
name  is  'French  Pete,'  or  otherwise  Pierre  Lefranc. 
He  used  to  be  a  Russian  naval  officer. — I  wish  to  find 
him." 

The  bottle  in  McMann's  hand  never  quivered,  but  his 
heart  was  filled  with  rage. 

" The  scoundrel  has  betrayed  me!  This  fellow  too 
has  the  secret! — Why  do  you  not  wait  and  meet  him 
here?  "  the  sailor  carelessly  asked. 

"There  will  be  ships  going  up  with  troops  soon!  He 
is  afraid  to  show  himself  in  Kodiak,"  earnestly  said 
Bradford. 

" There  are  some  old  Russian  enmities! — He  wants  tq 


•202  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKX. 

quietly  escape!  Once  in  San  Francisco,  I  can  protect 
him! — But  I  must  reach  him  at  once!  " 

The  yellow  gleam  of  Aleck  McMann's  deadly  eye  was 
unnoticed. 

"  /  will  reach  him  first,  you  fool  I  "  he  thought  as  his 
hand  closed  on  the  heavy  sheath  knife  which  he  wore, 
as  well  as  a  fully  loaded  revolver. 

*f  Where  is  he?  I  don't  want  to  get  my  ship  in  trou 
ble.  If  I  could  bring  him  off,  what  would  you  pay?  " 

McMann  faced  Bradford  with  a  glance  of  sullen  in 
quiry. 

"Five  thousand  dollars  coin!"  answered  Paul,  bring 
ing  his  fist  down  on  the  table.  "  I  will  deposit  the 
money  with  your  agent,  if  you  wish  to  see  it.  He  is 
hiding  with  the  Indians  on  Cheligoff  Island.  The  In 
dians  at  Karlouk  Point  know  him.  All  he  wants  to  do  is 
to  get  away  from  some  old  Russian  entanglements." 

"Has  he  committed  any  crime?"  stolidly  said 
McMann,  — "  I  suppose  he  has  killed  some  Indians!  " 

"  Oh!  no!"  answered  Paul,  "  I  only  want  him  brought 
away  from  there." 

"  He  j//<7//be!  "  mused  McMann,  "and  /'// keep  him /<zr 
away,  too!  I  will  trap  this  traitor!  If  I  did  not  need 
him,  I'd  sink  him  with  a  kedge  anchor  strapped  to  his 
feet!  The  scent  grows  hot!  I  must  warn  Zubowl  Shall 
I  run  him  off  ?  But  to  catch  him  first! — 

"What  will  you  give  to  communicate  with  him? 
That's  as  far  as  I  feel  safe!  You  see  I  might  get  my 
ship  in  trouble!"  simply  remarked  the  sailor,  pulling  at 
his  cigar. 

"If  you'll  run  in  and  signal  the  Karlouk  Indians  and 
get  safely  to  him  a  sealed  letter  from  me,  I  will  give  you 
one  thousand  dollars!  "  urged  Bradford. 

The  mate  considered  for  a  few  moments; 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  2O3 

"The  coast  is  rfat/gfrot/simd  it  takes  some  time!  Make 
it  two  thousand,  and  /'//  do  it  I  I'll  send  the  letter 
which  he  sends  back,  down  by  our  relief  ship  which  comes 
here  when  we  take  on  her  stores  there!" 

11  Done  I  I  will  meet  you  to-morrow  and  the  money 
will  be  ready!  " 

"  Have  it  ready  at  noon,  and  meet  we  at  the  Narwhal 
Saloon!  " 

11  All  right!  "  the  overjoyed  journalist  answered. 

"  I  have  done  a  neat   stroke  of  business  to-night, "- 
ruminated  Bradford,  as  he  waved   his  hand,  while  the 
departing  boat's  oars  were  showering  diamond  sparkles 
in  the  still  night  air. — 

"Now  you  are  caught!  My  fancy  speculator  spy!  I 
will  see  your  '  French  Pete,'  and — I'll  hold  him — where 
we  want  him,  until  we  are  ready  to  descend  upon  his 
gold  island!  How  shall  I  keep  him?  Under  lock  and 
key?  Ah!  I  see!  "  with  a  chuckled  laugh  over  a  bright 
thought,  McMann  took  a  night  cap,  and  turned  in! 

"It  will  take  a  couple  of  years  to  hide  the  whole  thing 
till  we  get  a  title.  As  soon  as  the  land  office  is  opened 
here  we  will  grasp  the  whole  territory!  But  I  must 
wake  ?//Zubow!  He  dreams  now  only  of  his  fur  cap 
ture.  I  must  get  at  work  quickly! — The  two  fur  ships 
are  ready  to  sail  now,  and  Zubow  will  be  after  them!"- 

Alexander  McMann,  smuggler,  desperado,  murderer 
and  pirate,  slept  the  sleep  of  the  proverbially  righteous, 
for  the  doom  of  '  French  Pete  '  was  already  sealed! 

"Yes, — that's  the  idea!  A  solitary  confinement!  The 
San  Francisco  house  can  fix  it!"  These  were  his  last 
night  thoughts! — 

The  old  Commodore  was  bristling  with  annoyance,  as 
he  said  adieu  to  the  anxious  Princess  Maxutoff,  a  week 
later. 


2O4  1HE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA. 

"  I  am  terribly  harrassed,"  he  growled  to  the  ex-Gov 
ernor  General.  ''Have  you  had  such  annoyances, 
Prince?  Here  I  am  besieged  by  all  kinds  of  adventurers 
uf  every  nationality  asking  for  passes,  permits  to  go 
north,  to  land  at  the  stations,  to  go  to  the  Prybiloff 
Islands, — to  establish  trading  posts, — to  do  everything 
in  the  world." 

"Ah!  we  Russians  do  not  allow  our  inferiors  to  annoy 
us!  They  are  subjects,  not  sovereigns!  " 

"Confound  the  place!  I  am  glad  to  be  rid  of  it!  " 
vociferated  the  Commodore,  "The  army  transport  will 
be  here  next  week.  Now,  Arthur,"  said  the  old  officer, 
"I  just  had  to  positively  refuse  your  friend  Bradford  the 
right  to  land  at  Kodiak!  You  can  tell  him  he  can  apply 
afterward  to  the  transport  steamer." 

"Madame  la  Princesse!"  said  the  courtly  old  sailor, 
"  I  will  only  keep  your  husband  as  my  guest  a  week!  I 
will  run  my  flagship  at  full  speed  and  formally  receive 
the  different  posts,  leaving  an  officer  to  turn  the  stations 
over  to  the  army  when  they  arrive.  So  it  will  only  be 
'  au  revoir! ' — I  am  in  haste  to  return  to  San  Francisco 
myself.  If  you  desire  aught,  Arthur  will  have  the  fleet 
officer  attend  to  your  slightest  wish!  " — 

The  "  Ossipee"  soon  left  the  harbor,  with  a  ringing 
salute,  in  honor  of  the  princely  guest,  while  handsome 
Arthur  Randolph  felt  a  new  dignity,  as  Knight-in-charge 
of  the  old  Castle  Perilous! — Sketching,  walking  the 
gallery  with  his  dainty  friend  and  patroness,  Countess 
Olga,  and  some  charming  Russian  lessons  from  pretty 
Irma,  were  the  artist's  diversions  in  the  ten  days  of  ab 
sence. 

"  Duischka!  Duischka!,  — Darling!"  this  was  the 
extent  of  Arthur's  gleanings  in  his  Muscovite  tuition. 

With  moody  brow,  Paul  Bradford  avoided  the  youth. 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  2O5 

"  I  have  one  iron  now  well  in  the  fire!  "  he  rejoiced,  as 
the  "  Reindeer"  stood  to  sea,  two  days  after  the  flag 
ship  left. 

"  I  wish  the  Commodore  to  be  away  when  I  land,  then 
I  shall  have  no  trouble  about  your  man  '  French  Pete!'" 
said  McMann,  as  he  jingled  Bradford's  gold. 

"Trust  me!     You  will  hear  by  the  transport!" 

"Fool!"  sneered  the  whaler,  as  Bradford  waved 
adieu,  —  "The  fox  has  trapped  himself  this  time!" 

For  over  their  cups,  Prince  Zubow  and  the  mate 
laughed  at  Bradford's  clumsiness. 

"Do  not  forget,  McMann,  you  can  have  any  help 
you  want  from  our  secret  partners  in  San  Francisco. 
Hold  on  to  the  French  fool!  We  will  use  him  later, 
when  our  system  is  established.  But  keep  him  hidden 
and  above  all  silent!" — 

"Now,"  mused  Serge  Zubow,  as  he  saw  the  "  Rein 
deer's"  snowy  sails  fade  away,  "  I  have,  at  last,  a  clear 
field! — Maxutoff  is  away,  and  these  people  at  the  castle 
will  shun  my  footsteps!  Now,  to  perfect  my  arrange 
ments  with  the  magnates  of  the  two  fur  ships!  If  the 
devil  fights  for  his  own,  the  Emperor  shall  never  see  a 
single  skin  of  these  priceless  bales!  Maxutoff 's  title  of 
Prince  of  Alaska  will  never  be  gazetted!  The  scheme 
will  net  us  two  millions,  for  there  will  be  no  Arctic  furs 
in  the  European  market  for  two  more  years!  In  inno 
cent  hands,  distributed  in  England,  Germany  and  Hol 
land,  the  goods  cannot  be  traced!  " 

He  was  walking  the  deck  of  his  trim  boat,  and,  as  the 
blue  smoke  of  his  regalia  floated  away,  he  saw  the  flut 
tering  robes  of  the  ladies,  on  their  guarded  gallery. 

"  Curse  that  weak-hearted  fool,  Maxutoff!  He  balked 
me  of  you,  baby-faced  song-bird! — But  I  drank  a  sweet 
revenge!  She  will  rue  in  silent  poverty  the  day  she 


2O6  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

scorned  my  offers!  Could  I  try  a  trap  for  her,  here, 
now!"— 

He  gloated  over  Olga's  thrilling  beauty. 

"  No!  "  he  growled,  "the  stake  is  too  great!  Fresh 
beauties  may  be  found;  but  I  must  keep  out  of  sight! 
Maxutoff's  ruin  will  give  to  me  and  our  silent  circle,  the 
actual  control  of  both  sides  of  the  Arctic!  His  child,  as 
Princess  of  Alaska,  would  be  a  menace  to  us!  She 
shall  not  be!  Even  Olga's  bright  eyes  are  not  worth 
that  plan's  miscarriage!  Gregory  Maxutoff  will  be 
trapped!  Doomed!  The  crash  will  come  when  his  lips 
are  sealed!  And  he  will  test  the  climate  of  the  Neva 
casements!  By  Heaven!  If  I  could  only  see  him  in  the 
dungeon!  The  convict's  friend  may  then  remember  our 
quarrel  ! " 

"Now,  for  the  directions  to  the  fur  ship's  officers!  " 

The  sound  of  nightly  feasting  kept  up  till  long  after 
the  transport,  loaded  with  soldiers,  left  to  garrison  the 
northern  posts.  Ending  at  Kodiak,  and  returning  by 
the  seal  islands,  the  boat  would  soon  bring  back  the 
scattered  temporary  naval  agents.— 

"  I  am  to  leave  you  soon,  Prince,"  said  the  artist, 
when  Zubow  sought  slyly  for  news  of  the  Governor 
General's  return. 

He  had  his  traitors  all  drilled  in  their  posts. 

"The  transport  will  take  me  to  San  Francisco." 

"And  your  friend,  Bradford?"  queried  Zubow. 

"Oh!  He  went  up  to  Kodiak,  as  purser's  volunteer 
assistant,"  replied  Arthur. 

"Ah!  He  never  should  have  left  here  alive! — This  is 
really  dangerous!" — the  Tartar  mused. 

Prince  Serge  Zubow  was  not  the  only  observer  in 
Sitka  who  marvelled  to  see  the  aristocratic  Paul  Brad 
ford  join  the  working  crew  of  the  old  "California,"  as 


PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  £07 

purser's  assistant.  To  a  chance  SarJ  Francisco 
acquaintance,  the  journalist  laughirigly  remarked: 
"The  transport  is  crowded  and  I  may  say  I  have 
worked  myself  into  the  best  stateroom  on  the  ship,  save 
the  Captain's!  "  For  with  six  companies  of  artillery  on 
board,  even  the  officers  slept  on  dining  saloon  cushions. 
Those  devoted  heroines  known  as  the  "ladies  of  the 
army,"  were  occupants  of  the  of  the  narrow  staterooms. 
— wives  and  mothers  of  uncomplaining  heroes,  often  the 
young  girls  who  married  into  the  "old  army,"  earned 
the  "imperishable  crown  "  several  times  before  being 
fitted  for  that  shadowy  adornment.  As  long  as  brass 
buttons  glitter,  and  gold  lace  gleams,  the  man  in  "  regi 
mentals"  leaves  the  sober-minded  "cit"  far  in  the  rear! 
It  may  be  that  the  "  bank  account "  of  the  plain  civilian 
has  its  merit  in  later  and  cooler  days,  but  the  sword  is 
often  wreathed  with  the  orange  blossoms  of  youth! — 

Paul  Bradford,  pencil  and  notebook  in  hand,  duly 
checked  freight  and  aided  his  genial  master,  an  old 
friend,  who  calmly  said:  "Don't  worry,  Paul!  "  when 
Bradford,  at  Sitka,  explained  his  dilemma. 

"I  will  make  a  working  man  of  you!  I  will  enter  you 
on  the  ship's  papers,  and  all  the  Generals  and  Colonels 
in  the  world  shall  not  keep  you  from  landing  at 
Kodiak!" 

The  adventurer  purposely  ignored  the  officers  of  the 
army,  lest  a  careless  word  might  betray  him, — for  his 
excited  mind  was  fixed  on  the  control  of  Pierre 
Lefranc's  secret.  Bradford  knew  not  that  drink,  fear 
of  Prince  Zubow,  and  remorse  due  to  shattered  nerves 
had  made  "  French  Pete"  a  wreck  on  Error's  shore. 

The  convict  saw  the  close  intimacy  of  McMann  and 
the  Tartar  Prince,  in  the  long  winter. 

"  If  I  told  them  all,"  he  muttered,    in  commune  with 


208  THK     I'KIM  KSS    OF    \tASK 

his  hopes,  "  they  would  butcher  me,  when  they  had  the 
secret:  as — as — we  killed  Orlof!"  — 

For  Fedor's  pallid  ghost  haunted  Lefranc's  pillow, 
even  as  the  avenging  shade  of  Stephan  had  broken  the 
guardsman's  dreams  on  the  Amur! 

Awful  price  of  human  blood! — of  unpunished  murder! 
—When  unpaid,  for  years,  it  is  paid  the  most, — in  the 
bitter  vigils  of  the  guilty!  For  bed  of  down,  bolts  and 
bars,  guards, — nay, — nor  clinging  white  arms,  can  not 
shut  out  the  unsubstantial  ghost  of  the  murdered  which 
will  not  down ! 

There  are  thousands  of  Macbeths  who  never  reached 
a  crown  by  guilt,  who  meet  an  awful  Banquo,  in  mystic 
samite,  at  every  turn! — The  martial  shade  which  stalked 
at  Elsinore  has,  alas,  countless  prototypes!  It  would 
seem  as  if  the  earth  reeked  with  the  blood  of  unavenged 
innocence!  But  who  may  follow  the  awful  web  of  the 
mystic  fates? 

So,  Bradford  knew  not  of  the  impending  wreck  of 
Lefranc's  mind,  nor  the  real  reason  of  his  refuge  among 
the  Karlouk  Indians!  At  any  alarm,  in  his  swift  bai- 
dare,  he  could  hide  on  the  safest  of  a  dozen  moss- 
covered  islands!  For  now,  the  murderer  feared  that 
either  Serge  Zubow  might  kill  him,  or  wily  McMann 
outwit  him! — 

"No!  only  at  San  Francisco,  when  I  have  gold,  a 
hoard  of  gold,  will  I  give  up  my  secrets!" 

For  old  Shaman  Thorn,  now  dead,  had  imparted  to 
Pierre  Lefranc  alone,  the  whole  story  of  the  island 
treasure!  The  simple  natives  fancied  that  the  gold 
grew  in  the  gullies  of  the  high  green  rock,  and  only 
every  three  to  five  years  did  the  yellow  treasures  blos 
som  to  harvest! 

The   "California"   sped  away,   lightly  laden,   as  the 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA. 

freight  for  Forts  Tongass  and  Wrangell  was  left  behind 
at  Sitka,  their  garrisons  were  following  to  take  charge 
by  another  steamer!  Bradford,  at  any  other  time,  would 
have  revelled  in  the  unique  beauties  of  the  Archipelago 
of  Sitka!  The  autumn  colors  of  the  thousand  islets 
gleamed  in  emerald,  gold  and  burning  crimson,  shaded 
down  to  the  sea  shell's  dainty  pink!  Under  the  shad 
ows  of  the  tall  green  pines,  troops  of  lithe,  gray  deer 
herded,  cleaving  their  watery  path,  when  startled  to 
other  mossy  haunts.  The  balsam  breath  of  the  pines, 
the  fragrant  fir,  and  crisp  birch,  scented  the  cool  air  as 
the  steamer  plowed  its  way  through  the  deep  channel 
clefts,  dashing  rippling  waves  over  the  lonely  shores! 
Mount  Edgecumbe's  silent  crater  hung  far  above  him, 
snow-mantled,  as  its  lava-channeled  sides  towered  in 
the  blue-vaulted  air. — It  was  an  enchanting  dream,  but 
Paul  Bradford  saw  nothing  but  that  distant,  fog-hidden 
gold  island!  The  majestic  sculpture  of  the  Fairweather 
range  in  silvery  turrets  and  faint  drawn  minarets  flushed 
by  them, — and  the  steel-brown  rusty  hills  lowered 
darkly  to  the  East!  A  land  of  lonely  seas  and  wildest 
shores!  The  unbroken  silence  of  the  Arctic  seemed 
wafted  from  the  blue  skies,  wherein  Polaris  gleamed 
on  high,  a  warning  lamp,  and  the  northern  lights  glit 
tered  around  the  Sea  of  Ice  which  locks  the  secret  of 
the  frozen  Pole! 

Through  floating,  sharp-fanged  ice  cakes,  into  great 
Glacier  Bay,  the  bearers  of  the  new  banner  voyaged,  a 
quaintly  carved  mass  of  nature's  dainty  imagery  in  liv 
ing  turquoise  blue,  fading  into  the  coal-green  of  the  salt 
sea  waves. 

In  silent  parade,  cramped  between  its  huge  mountain- 
flanking  boundaries,  the  King  of  Glaciers  unrolled  its 
matchless  panorama! — Hundreds  of  feet  in  height,  the 


210  THE    PRINCESS    <>l      ALA-: 

Aladdin's  palace  of  glittering  purest  ice  took  on  every 
gleaming  color  of  an  artist's  palette,  and  shaped  in  its 
calm  distant  reaches,  every  dainty  fancy  of  a  poet's 
brain. 

The  thundering  artillery  of  falling  citadels  of  thou 
sands  of  tons  of  ice  resounded  in  a  distant  roar,  while 
affrighted  waves  fled  far  to  sea  in  tremor!  It  was  the 
giant's  playground,  a  green  and  glittering  ice  field,  the 
emerald  heights  took  on  tints  of  gold  and  rose,  as  the 
Arctic  sun  sank  far  in  the  gray  waste  of  the  wild 
Behring  Sea!  The  castled  crags  of  Drachenfels,  in 
sculptured  outline,  waked  the  noblest  lyric  of  Byron's 
tortured  heart,  but  the  poet  of  the  Muir  glacier  must  be 
a  future  crystallization  of  the  exquisitely  throbbing 
mother-heart  of  Nature!  That  Fairy  Prince  comes  not 
yet!  His  master  hand  has  never  waked  the  chords  of 
nature's  wild  wind-swept  harp! — 

At  night  Dome  Peak,  Tako  Inlet  and  Admiralty 
Island, — loomed  to  the  east  darkly,  while  the  rushing 
paddle  wheels  beat  their  way  against  a  stiff  sea  toward 
the  great  bend  of  Alaska.  Paul  Bradford,  watching 
the  distant  lights  of  Indian  encampments,  wondered  in 
what  one  of  these  gloomy  fiords  the  unreaped  gold 
deposits  lay.  "  But  I  shall  know  in  a  day  or  more!  "  he 
cried,  as  he  threw  his  cigar  away  and  saw  the  hissing 
spark  whirled  in  the  sea.  "And  'French  Pete'  shall 
never  leave  my  eye  till  I  have  secured  the  legal  land 
entry  to  cover  the  gold  fields!  "— 

In  the  darkness  of  the  night  Bradford  unconsciously 
passed  the  hidden  treasures  which  had  baffled  fifty 
seekers  for  a  century!  Sweeping  through  Prince  Wil 
liam's  Sound,  the  stout  steamer  sped  along,  aided  by 
the  current,  toward  Kodiak  Island.  In  the  gray  of  a 
chilly  morning  Paul  Bradford,  with  a  beating  heart,  saw 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  211 

Kodiak  and  Afognak  rising,  mountain  buttressed  in  the 
air,  with  the  flashing  rivers  tumbling  down  into  indented 
bays!  In  sight,  Aliaska  peninsula  led  out  to  the  Aleu 
tian  Islands,  fencing  in  the  lonely  sea  of  Beavers.  As 
the  fog  lifted,  the  steamer  exchanged  signals  with  the 
heavy-sparred  "  Ossipee  "  on  her  outward  track  to 
the  Prybiloffs. 

"Thank  Heaven!"  cried  Bradford,  as  he  hastened 
his  preparations  to  land.  "I  will  find  this  man  soon! 
If  the  'Reindeer'  has  not  arrived  I  will  get  him  smug 
gled  back  in  this  boat!  "— 

In  an  hour  the  anchor  rattled  down  in  Chiniatskoy 
Bay,  and  in  a  stout  cutter  the  purser's  assistant  dashed 
away  toward  Karlouk!  For  the  natives,  swarming 
around  in  their  skin  canoes,  had  informed  the  purser 
that  the  lt  Reindeer"  had  sailed  the  day  before. 

"I  am  safe,  at  any  rate!"  mused  Bradford,  watching 
the  leg-of-mutton  sail,  drawing  every  thread  under  a 
stiff  breeze. — His  pockets  were  filled  with  ready  gold! 
A  good  revolver  and  several  jugs  of  rum  were  his  sup 
porters  in  his  dealings  with  the  Chief  of  the  Karlouks 
Bradford  had  caught  up  all  the  threads  of  information, 
and  a  Kodiak  native  in  the  cutter  was  the  pilot.  Two 
hours  later,  drenched  with  spray,  the  gold  seeker  en 
tered  the  squalid  hut  of  driftwood,  banked  with  mud, 
of  the  Karlouk  Chief!  Two  or  three  crones,  hovering 
over  a  fire,  watched  a  mass  of  broiling  fish,  and  in 
a  circle  of  seal-skin  clad,  greasy  natives  Paul  found 
Oo-ni-mak,  the  wily  Eskimo  who  had  long  sheltered 
Pierre  Lefranc, — now  known  to  trade  and  whaler  as 
"French  Pete"  ! — The  corner  of  the  hut  was  filled  with 
walrus  spears,  whaling  gear,  implements  of  fishing  and 
trapping  and  bales  of  skins  The  shaven  Eskimo 
grunted  in  joy  as  Bradford  broached  a  jug  of  "open 
sesame"  rum. 


212  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

The  sight  of  gold,  already  known  as  the  token  of 
purchasing  power,  brought  the  natives  around  in  a 
crowd.  To  the  native  pilot,  a  good  interpreter,  Brad 
ford  confided  his  request  to  be  led  to  "French  Pete." 
The  Kodiak  native,  a  harpooner,  had  picked  his  English 
up  on*  several  whaling  and  hunting  cruises.  After  an 
excited  dialogue  with  the  Eskimo,  the  native  turned  a 
blank  face  to  Bradford. 

"Gone!  Carried  away  by  Me  'Reindeer!'  McMann, 
Big  Aleck  took  him!" 

"  When?"  shouted  Bradford. 

"Three  days  ago! — He  was  carried  on  board  this 
whaler!" 

"Was  the  man  sick?"  queried  the  journalist  spy. 

"No!  He  did  not  want  to  go,  and  they  carried  him 
tied  to  the  boat,  and  then  took  him  away! " — 

Bradford  was  now  excited: 

"  Was  there  foul  play?  " 

He  feared  to  betray  his  anxiety  to  the  cunning  old 
Aleut  Chief,  Escaping  from  the  fearfully  vile  interior, 
Bradford  led  the  interpreter  up  and  down  the  beach. 
He  then,  after  a  half -hour's  powwow,  distributed  the  rest 
of  his  liquid  largesse,  and  threw  his  tired  limbs  on  a 
tarpaulin  in  the  boat. 

It  was  four  o'clock  next  morning,  when  the  disap 
pointed  man  sullenly  rewarded  his  boat's  crew!  He  had 
left  the  native  pilot  to  verify  the  old  Chief's  astonishing 
story!  It  appeared  that  a  violent  quarrel  of  some  kind 
had  followed  an  interview  of  McMann  with  "French 
Pete,"  who  had  been  drinking  heavily.  When  the 
burly  mate  had  seen  Lefranc  read  the  letter,  which  the 
old  Chief  had  seen  delivered,  he  endeavored  to  draw 
"French  Pete"  out  of  the  hut  with  him!  A  long  col 
loquy  followed,  which  was  ended  by  McMann  summon- 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  213 

ing  his  armed  boat's  crew.  The  native  described,  in 
dumb  show,  how  the  Russian  ex-convict  had  been  bound 
and  carried  off,  yelling  for  help,  to  the  boat,  by  the 
sailors  from  the  "  Reindeer." — And  this  water  sprite 
then  filled  her  sails  and  stood  out  toward  the  straits  and 
the  whaling  ground. — 

"I  suppose  the  mystery  will  be  solved  when  I  get 
McMann's  letters  at  Sitka,  by  the  "Ossipee,"  so  rumi 
nated  the  wondering  Bohemian.  He  learned  that 
Oo-ni-mak  had  sent  a  native  down  to  Kodiak,  with  a 
letter  prepared  by  McMann,  while  his  crew  guarded 
Lefranc  in  the  boat  at  the  native's  little  cove  harbor. 
Bradford  knew  the  Arctic  courtesy  of  letter  carrying, 
and  pondered  on  the  possible  explanation.— 

The  next  night,   when  the   "  California  "  quickly  dis 
charged  by  the  soldiery,  glad  to  be  on  terra  firma,  fired 
her  gun  and  turned  her  prow  toward  Sitka,  Paul  Brad 
ford  was  as  far  from  the  mystery  of  the  golden  island  as 
at  San  Francisco! 

"  Thank  Heavens!  We  do  not  run  out  to  the  Prybil- 
offs!"  he  ejaculated,  when  he  learned  that  a  schooner 
would  take  the  temporary  military  guard  over  to  the 
fur  seal  islands.— 

Bradford's  unrest  haunted  him  on  the  three  days' 
return  voyage.  The  final  report  of  his  pilot  interpreter 
left  no  doubt  that  "French  Pete"  had  really  been 
dragged  away  against  his  will,  by  McMann. 

"  Did  he  need  medical  assistance?  Was  there  some  hid 
den  danger?  " 

But  his  heart  sank  within  him,  as  the  interpreter 
expressed  a  rude  surprise  at  the  quarrel  : 

"  They  no  fight  before,  not  in  one, — two, — three  years!"" 
the  native  kept  up  confirmatory  fingers. 

"But  perhaps  McMann  did  not  recognize  him,  under 
the  name  I  gavel" 

14, 


214  THE    PRINCKSS    01      ALASKA. 

Bradford  was  puzzcd,  for  the  natives  insisted  that 
McMann  and  the  Frenchman  were  formerly  good  friends! 

When  the  "California"  glided  into  Sitka  Strait,  three 
great  square-rigged  vessels  were  seen  standing  out  to  sea! 
In  company,  the  fur-laden  packets  of  the  Czar  were  sail 
ing  westwardly,  flying  the  Muscovite  transport  flag,  and 
the  "  Nevsky,"  lighter  and  swifter,  had  swept  far  ahead, 
in  the  sweep  of  the  Japanese  current!  Her  checkered 
sides  marked  the  whaler  and  trader  with  the  old  imita 
tion  gun  ports.  There  was  nothing  left  in  Sitka  Harbor, 
but  some  small  vessels  and  the  three  United  States  war 
vessels. 

"  Paul,  do  you  go  down  with  us?  Will  you  still  be 
purser's  clerk,  or  did  you  make  your  fortuned  Kodiak?  " 
bantered  the  general  steamer  official,  as  the  friends  gave 
up  their  brandy  and  soda,  with  euchre  accompaniment, 
at  the  port. 

"I'll  tell  you,  /'//  ten  minutes,  after  I  get  a  letter  here! 
I  expect  news!"  said  Paul,  as  they  sped  away  to  the 
shore. 

At  the  temporary  office  of  the  Admiral's  fleet  secre 
tary,  the  purser  received  stringent  orders  to  reserve  all 
the  cabins  on  the  downward  trip  for  Prince  Maxutoff  s 
family. — 

*' Aristocratic  passengers!"  cried  the  Purser. 

"Well,  do  you  go  !  "  he  continued,  as  Bradford  perused 
a  heavy  document  handed  him  by  Arthur  Randolph,  who 
said,  "This  came  down  marked  'Special,'  on  the  '  Ossi- 
pee,'  and  was  given  me  by  my  uncle  as  it  is  also  marked 
'  Immediate?  I  sought  you  out." 

Both  the  Purser  and  Randolph  marveled  as,  with 
brief  thanks,  Paul  Bradford  threw  himself  down  at  a 
table  and  called  for  a  glass  of  brandy.  It  was  unusual! 
He  was  as  white  as  the  paper  he  held!  The  two  men 
left  him. 


THE    PklNCESS    OF    ALASKA.  21^ 

"  Bradford  seems  sick!"  said  the  jolly  Purser.  "  He 
has  not  been  the  same  man  since  we  left  Kodiak!  " 

Arthur  Randolph  hastened  away,  for  he  was  to  be  the 
fortunate  escort  to  San  Francisco  of  the  two  Russian 
ladies  and  his  now  devoted  pupil,  the  little  Princess 
Irma.  In  the  old  house,  at  once  grogshop,  store,  and 
temporary  customs  headquarters,  Paul  Bradford  blankly 
gazed  at  the  letter,  whose  useless  voyage  to  Kodiak  had 
cost  two  thousand  dollars!  It  fell  out  of  McMann's  great 
clumsy  envelope,  and  its  appearance  showed  that  it  had 
been  tampered  with  and  closed  by  a  dirty  thumb. — The 
vague  character  of  the  mate's  letter  made  Bradford  start 
with  impotent  rage.— 

"  I  return  your  letter!  '  French  Pete  '  is  not  at  Kodiak! 
He  left  Karlouk  several  weeks  ago,  and  may  be  on  some 
other  whaler!  I  return  the  paper  intact!  The  old  Chief 
Oo-ni-mak  saw  him  sail  away!" 

A  few  detailed  lies  served  to  fill  the  sheet  over  the  vil 
lain's  signature  at  the  foot! — 

"Hound  and  liar!  I  have  been  tricked!  But  who 
seeks  the  Golden  Island?  This  scoundrel,  McMann, 
has  surely  spirited  the  Frenchman  away!  I  have  been 
fighting  an  unseen  foe!  Now,  for  a  forlorn  hope!  To 
wait  at  San  Francisco,  board  the  returning  whaler  and 
take  the  Frenchman  off  on  her  landing!  But  on  what 
pretext?  " 

In  sullen,  baffled  rage,  Paul  Bradford  gathered  up  his 
belongings  on  shore  to  report  to  his  secret  backers  at 
San  Francisco.  He  mused — 

"Perhaps  McMann  can  be  bought  to  betray  his  em 
ployers!  Has  Lefranc  been  carried  away  to  be  landed 
on  the  Siberian  shore  in  a  perpetual  bondage?  There  is 
some  unseen  influence  here!"  and  the  shadow  of  defeat 
sat  on  Paul  Bradford's  brows,  as  he  boarded  the  steamer. 


2i  6  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

— "The  French  Consul  believed  that  the  story  and 
samples  of  gold  quartz  and  dust  were  genuine!  Who  is 
/W//WMcMann?  I  must  watch  that  Company's  whaling 
headquarters,  for  the  island  shall  be  found!  " — 

While  the  decks  of  the  "  California  "  were  crowded 
with  a  departing  motley  throng,  the  main  saloon  was 
sacred  to  the  Commodore  and  several  of  his  ranking 
officers.  For  already,  the  ladies'  cabin  was  filled  by  the 
Maxutoff  party,  save  only  the  wistful  Princess  Beatrice. 
—Countess  Olga  Orlof  was  the  especial  object  of  the 
Commodore's  care,  and  Arthur  Randolph  was  eagerly 
explaining  the  proposed  voyage  to  his  inseparable  com 
panion,  the  dashing  little  Princess  Irma! 

"And  you  will  teach  me  to  draw  and  paint!  Truly!" 
the  bright  eyed  student  asked. 

"This  winter.  Yes! — At  Dresden!  You  shall  be  my 
first  lady  pupil, — and  my  model,  for  a  young  angel!" 
fondly  said  Randolph. 

The  warning  whistles,  bells  and  signals,  were  recall 
ing  all  stragglers  and  announcing  the  transport's  sailing. 
The  gallant  Commodore  wondered  at  Countess  Olga's 
unreserved  coldness  to  the  compliments  of  the  impres 
sionable  officers  of  rank.  She  was  standing  anxiously 
watching  the  great  portal  of  Baranoff  Castle.  For 
though  all  the  baggage  and  servants  were  now  on  board, 
—though  even  that  prince  of  aristocratic  Sitkan  chil 
dren,  the  infantile  Stephan  Orlof,  was  the  charge  of  his 
watchful  attendant,  in  the  great  saloon  stateroom,  Prince 
and  Princess  Maxutoff  had  lingered  alone  in  the  dis 
mantled  halls  of  the  old  castle!  They  lingered  behind 
to  say  adieu  clasped  heart  to  heart,  once  more, — 
before  a  separation  of  long  weary  months!  For  vast  re 
sponsibilities  and  tedious  bureau  affairs  would  hold 
Prince  Maxutoff  at  St.  Petersburg  until  after  he  had  de- 


PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  21? 

livered  up  the  Czar's  last  keys  of  American  Empire !  His 
work  was  not  all  done,  till  he  had  returned  the  rich 
tribute  of  the  frozen  north,  settled  the  complicated 
affairs  of  the  old  Russian  American  Company  and 
rendered  up  to  the  Privy  Council  his  powers  and  secret 
archives!  The  husband  started  as  they  heard  the  signal 
warning  whistles!  For  the  last  time,  Beatrice  Maxutoff 
gazed  from  her  favorite  window,  where  for  years  she 
had  gazed  out  in  her  yearning  for  the  far  away  Russian 
home  !  Happy  Russia!  Tears  started  to  the  lovely  ladies 
eyes  as  she  bade  the  exquisite  panorama  a  last  farewell 
in  a  lingering  glance!  Turning,  she  was  clasped  in  her 
husband's  arms  in  a  passionate  parting,  and  by  the  flick 
ering  ashes  of  their  hearthstone,  soon  to  be  cold  forever, 
— they  thought  of  the  happy  past,  the  honors,  the  com 
forts,  the  semi-regal  state  of  their  years  under  tJie 
northern  lights,  reflecting  the  glory  of  the  splendid 
Russian  crown!— 

"Beatrice!  Remember  my  heart  is  with  you,  in  your 
bosom!  And  Irma,  darling  Irma,  whom  I  shall  not  see, 
until  I  have  won  for  her  the  title  of  the  first  Princess  of 
Alaska!  Think  always  of  me!  I  am  with  you  in  heart 
and  soul!  And,  now,  darling,  one  last  embrace,—  here  in 
the  quaint  old  castle  home!  For  you  must  be  brave  at 
the  last!  My  own  Beatrice!  "— 

With  graceful  dignity,  the  lady  Princess  bowed,  but 
she  smiled  through  tears,  veiling  her  drooping  lashes,  as 
the  American  sentinel  "turned  out  the  Guard,"  when 
Maxutoff  led  his  charming  wife  over  the  threshold  for 
the  very  last  time!  The  last  Time!  There  is  a  thrill  of 
a  mysterious  heart  tumult  in  the  very  words  :  The  Last 
Time!  Parted  lovers,  friends  estranged,  loving  watchers 
at  the  bed  of  pain,  those  who  meet  and  part  on  the 
great  Sea  of  Life,  hear  the  sad  words,  '  The  Last  Time! ' 


mi-.    IM 


as   a   knell   rung   by  the   cruel   Fates!       bright,    bi.i 
hearted    Beatrice   Maxutoff,    leaned   upon   hef    princely 
husband's   arm    as   the   breeze   blew  back   her  rich  dark 
tresses. 

"  /will  guard  Irma,  my  darling"  she  hopefully  replied. 

"May  God  guard  you,  and  nil  ice  /<vr,  in  this  year  of 
separation!  " 

"  .  lad  >n\  C/'/VVVVT.'"  She  pressed  his  arm  with  loving 
grasp. 

"Though  parted,  you  go  to  new  honors!  To  bring 
me  your  laurels  where  I  will  wait,  under  the  roses  of  the 
Elbe  valley!  Think  of  our  o\\n  little  one,  —  the  dainty 
Snow  Princess,  —  Irma,  of  Alaska!'1'1  — 

"  Dear  old  Dresden!  Our  happy  future  waits  us  there! 
A  nation's  honor!  An  Emperor's  gratitude!  The  wel 
come  of  the  stately  Empress  who  guarded  my  youth! 
Shall  I  forget  the  day  she  gave  me  the  mark  of  the 
Golden  Chiffre,  at  the  Catherine  Institute!  Your  fidelity 
and  wisdom  have  assured  Irma's  future!  In  our  later 
years,  we  will  look  back  together  to  this  happy,  romantic, 
quaint,  old  Baranoff,  —  our  loving  and  beloved  old  prison 
mansion!  " 

And  she  kissed  him  fondly,  with  trembling  lips  of 
love  !  — 

An  hour  later,  Gregory  Maxutoff  watched  the  "Cali 
fornia"  turn  behind  the  cliffs!  The  parting  was  achieved! 

"  To  my  work!"  he  thought,  with  a  sigh,  and  he  little 
recked  that  in  two  capitals,  shrewd  scoundrels,  in  high 
places,  worked  at  the  plotting  of  his  ruin!  — 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  2IQ 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

A    SILENT   YANKEE — THE    GOVERNOR    GENERAL'S    DEPARTURE 

OMINOUS    TIDINGS — ANTON    PHILLIPPl'S    MISSION 

AT  DRESDEN — VERA  ORLOP'S    SURPRISE — "  I  AM 
YOUR  FRIEND  FOR  LIFE — FOR  OLGA's  SAKE." 

Countess  Olga  Orlof,  leaning  on  the  steamer's  rail  looked 
again  the  Olga  Darine  of  her  happiest  days,  as  the  wooing 
winds  swept  the  clustering  golden  curls  from  her  exquisite 
face.  Though  the  lone  grave  by  the  rose-scented  copse  of 
flashing  Indian  River  lingered  in  her  mind,  she  felt  a 
strange  new  joy  of  motherhood  thrilling  her  bosom. 

"  I  am  bearing  little  Stephan,  born  in  innocence,  the 
child  of  Love.,  back  to  the  land  where  he  shall  live  to  honor 
the  princely  name  of  my  husband, — of  Fedor  Orlof,  the 
unhappy,  loving,  loyal  man,  whose  life  was  given  up  for 
me!" 

For  in  the  duplicate  patent  of  the  great  gold  fields,  now 
secured  in  joint  ownership  to  MaxutofF  and  his  heirs,  and 
to  Countess  Olga  Orlof  and  her  descendants,  she  knew  she 
carried  the  glittering  prize  for  which  luckless  Fedor  was 
slain!  The  little  Princess  of  Alaska  in  the  dim  future 
could  shield  and  guard  her  baby  playfellow! 

The  old  Shaman  treachery,  Pierre  Lefranc's  greed  and 
betrayal,  Serge  Zubow's  brutal  double  revenge, — all  these 
led  up  to  the  murder  on  the  "high  bare  green  island," 
where  the  dull  golden  grains  lay,  under  the  foot  now  ot 
only  the  wild  beast,  and  guarded  by  the  screaming  sea 
birds!— 

"Stephan!  my  Stephan!  has  come  unto  his  own!  Perhaps, 
on  some  great  field,  he  may  yet  lead  his  father's  squadrons, 
under  the  Imperial  eye,  to  a  rose  red  victory  whose  golden 
glory  shall  wipe  out  the  old,  old  stain!  " 


220  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

And  with  this  second  devotion  of  her  life,  Countess  Olga 
cheered  Princess  Maxutoff,  whose  womanly  fortitude  less 
ened  with  every  sweep  of  the  surge  bearing  her  farther 
from  her  dead  husband!  For  the  mother  and  the  Alaskan 
Princess  had  seen  their  silent  realm  for  the  last  time! 

The  two  ladies  were  much  alone,  save  for  the  bright  com 
panionship  of  Arthur  Randolph,  who  was  responsible  for 
the  safety  of  madcap  Irma.  Paul  Bradford  had  not  failed, 
before  reaching  San  Francisco,  to  endeavor  to  ingratiate 
himself  with  the  gentle  voyagers!  But  in  vain,  he  could 
not  reach  the  charmed  circle  of  confidence.  Princess 
Beatrice  shunned  him,  for  his  suspicious  intimacy  with  the 
morose  Tartar,  Serge  Zubow,  was  known  to  her. 

"  I  can  not  trust  any  friend  of  that  dark  villain!"  the 
anxious  wife  said.  "My  only  cloud  upon  these  happy 
changes,  to  be,  is  that  Serge  Zubow  is  still  in  the  North 
Pacific!  He  has  money,  friends  and  the  strange  support  of 
Count  Fersen.  All  this  bodes  no  good  to  Gregory!"  And 
yet,  in  the  unaccustomed  bustle  of  a  great  city,  Beatrice 
Maxutoff's  heart  lightened,  her  spirits  rose,  for  the  first 
news  she  gained  was  that  a  Russian  war  vessel  had  already 
been  detached  to  convey  her  husband  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Amur.  On  its  frozen  bed,  he  would  dart  away,  in  the 
night  and  day  express  of  the  Imperial  Courier's  swift  sleigh! 
The  wondering  eyes  of  the  ladies  of  Baranoff  were  fixed 
on  New  York's  marvels  of  kaleidoscopic  life,  a  month 
later,  before  Prince  Gregory  had  received  the  farewell 
oration  of  the  denizens  of  Sitka!  Their  journeying  to  Eu 
rope  was  a  daily  round  of  the  quickening  impulses  of  a 
recivilization! 

It  was  with  an  anxious  heart  that  Maxutoff  prepared  for 
his  own  departure. — He  might  not  hope  to  know  before  it, 
of  the  embarkation  on  the  Atlantic  of  his  precious  host 
ages  to  fortune.  His  first  news  of  the  nesting  of  his  wan 
derers  at  Dresden  would  be  from  old  Excellence  Butzow^ 


THE    PRINCESS    OK    ALASKA.  Hi 

who  could  telegraph  in  the  Imperial  cipher  to  far  Irkutsk! 
It  was  on  a  chilly  December  night  that  the  "  Rurik  "  lost 
the  lights  of  Sitka  from  view  and,  in  the  howling  of  the 
rising  storm,  Prince  Gregory  sought  his  care -haunted 
couch,  on  the  high  seas.  Not  even  '  the  Emperor's  health' 
given  by  cheery  Captain  Linieff,  roused  him  from  the  ta- 
tigue  of  his  last  six  months,  and  the  grinding  trials  of  his 
high  station. — For,  in  the  last  week,  while  Linieff  ran  to 
Behring  Straits  and  picked  up  the  last  Russian  officers,  the 
Prince  was  busied  in  his  deserted  home,  pondering  over  a 
mass  of  important  despatches  from  the  Privy  Council, 
which  had  only  reached  him  through  the  hands  of  Captain 
Linieff,  who  had  received  them  officially  from  the  Russian 
Consul  at  San  Francisco.  They  contained  the  last  direc 
tions  of  the  Home  Government,  countersigned  by  that 
wily  Imperial  Delegate  Count  Fersen,  now  at  St.  Peters 
burg.  It  was  true  that  the  whole  population  of  Sitka  had 
given  him  parting  salvos  of  cheers.  That  the  complicated 
affairs  of  the  Czar  were  all  now  honorably  adjusted,  that 
the  United  States  officers  gave  him  a  superb  banquet  atthe 
castle,  in  adieu,  and  that  the  thundering  cannon  wished 
them  all  a  noisy  "  God  speed!  " — 

For  the  safety  of  the  enormously  valuable  fur  tribute 
cargoes  had  been  a  source  of  great  past  anxiety!  In  the 
wild  storm  of  the  night,  Gregory  Maxutoff  shuddered  at  the 
thought  of  nearly  two  millions  of  dollars,  in  furs  alone,  ex 
posed  to  the  risks  of  the  sea.  True,  the  Russian  Crown's 
laws  and  dignity  provided  for  no  insurance.  The  high 
seas  were  swept  now  by  no  hostile  sail. — But  a  vague  pre 
sentiment  seized  Maxutoff  as  he  closed  his  eyes  in  the  wild 
gale.  "  If  they  should  be  lost,  the  fur  ships,  I  would  be 
forever  a  ruined, — a  disgraced  man!  As  they  drove  on 
toward  the  mouth  of  the  Amur,  Maxutoff  examined  the 
last  dispatches  received  too  late  for  effective  action.  By 
hazard  his  eyes  rested  upon  the  postmarks  of  the  final 


222  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

unopened  envelope.  He  tore  it  open  and,  in  the  splendid 
cabin  which  he  shared  with  the  Captain,  turned  to  LiniefT 
with  a  groan! 

"My  God!  Linieff,  I  atn  ruined.'  "  he  cried.  His  face 
wore  the  pallor  of  death. 

"  What  has  happened?  "  cried  the  loyal  sailor,  forcing  a 
draught  of  cognac  upon  him. 

"There  has  been  foul  work  somewhere!  Here  is  a  posi 
tive  order  of  council  for  me  to  hold  the  fur  ships  until  the 
arrival  of  a  special  corvette  as  convoy, — that  I  must  officer 
each  of  them  with  selected  naval  officers  from  the  war  ves 
sel  sent,  and  a  guard  of  twenty  sailors  and  mariners,  with 
four  cannon  on  each,  should  be  sent  as  a  protection  from 
the  artful  Malay  pirates!  Upon  no  account  should  I  send 
them  forth  otherwise!  And  an  implicit  obedience  ordered 
at  my  peril!  Set!  These  dispatches  have  been  delayed 
two  months  on  the  road, — moreover,  in  Fersen's  own  hand 
is  written:  ' 'Following  the  detailed  orders  given  to  you  by  me 
at  SitkaS" 

"It  is  unfortunate!"  murmured  Linieff,  aghast  at  the 
possible  consequences. 

"Linieff,  I  am  ruined!  Fersen  never  gave  me  any  such 
orders!  And  these  dispatches  have  been  surely  withheld 
for  some  sinister  purpose!  They  reached  San  Francisco 
in  time  for  me  to  have  acted.  Who  are  my  enemies!" 

"  I  cannot  tell!  Let  us  hope  that  nothing  will  happen  to 
the  cargoes.  But  I  believe  Count  Fersen  and  Serge  Zubow 
both  bear  you  ill  will.  Each  of  them,  in  San  Francisco, 
was  often  accompanied  by  a  silent  Yankee  with  an  inscrut 
able  face, —  a  middle-aged  man, —  Eben  Tomlinson  by 
name!  Now,  Count  Fersen  was  also  inseparable  from  this 
man  on  his  visit.  I  have  found  out  that  he  sold  Serge 
Zubow  the  "Nei'sky"  and  they  met  at  Victoria.  You  have 
told  me  of  Fersen's  previously  prepared  proxy  to  Zubow, 
and  the  Russian  Consul  completed  this  peculiar  friendly 


THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA.  223 

association!  I  have  heard  it  rumored  that  Fersen  and 
Zubow  would  try  to  control  the  Siberian  fur  trade  and  the 
seal  island,  and  that  this  Tomlinson  aimed  at  a  great  asso 
ciation  licensed  by  the  American  Congress. — Now,  your 
disgrace,  by  the  withholding  of  these  dispatches,  could  be 
effected  only  by  the  Consul!" 

"  Zubow  certainly  hates  you,  and  I  have  always  felt  that 
he  had  a  hand  in  poor  Orlof's  murder!  From  Serge 
Zubow  and  Anton  Phillippi's  past  deeds  in  Khamschatka 
I  know  they  would  not  even  stop  at  murder  to  carry 
their  plans, — and  Phillippi  arrived  before  I  sailed, — from 
Japan  and  China,  on  his  way  to  Washington  to  confer  with 
the  Russian  Minister!  This  Eben  Tomlinson  has  also  been 
Phillippi's  American  agent  for  years.  They  might  have 
bribed  the  Consul  to  withhold  your  dispatches,  if  Fersen 
could  have  warned  them!  But  for  what  purpose?  " 

"To  make  some  furtive  attempt  on  the  fur  cargoes!  1 
see  it  all!  Zubow  swore  my  ruin  over  the  Orlof  quarrel! 
And  his  '  Nevsky'  has  followed  the  two  fur  ships  to  sea! 
—  [  am  helpless!  " 

In  far  San  Francisco,  as  the  "Rurik''  breasted  the 
Ochotsk  gales,  over  a  sumptuous  table  in  the  sacred 
domain  of  the  Russian  Consulate,  Tomlinson  and  Phil 
lippi  eagerly  communed,  as  the  officials,  with  sleepy  eyes, 
watched  them  in  satisfaction. 

"Well!  Did  Zubow  get  all  his  men  on  board  the  two 
ships?  Have  you  heard? "  said  Phillippi,  with  a  wicked 
gleam  in  his  eyes. 

"Yes!"  briefly  replied  the  Yankee.  "I  gathered  up 
most  of  the  men  at  Victoria,  and  sent  them  up  on  the 
'  Nevsky'  !  Zubow's  letter  by  the  troop  ship  tells  me  that 
one  captain  (a  greedy  Finn)  is  safe  to  be  depended  on  to 
land  one  cargo  in  Victoria!  Mixed  with  the  exports  from 
there,  the  furs  can  never  be  traced!  "- 

<l  Good!  "  cried  Phillippi.     "  And  the  other?  " 


224  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

"  The  other  Serge  Zubow  himself  w\\\  fight  for!  He  will 
reach  the  Kurile  Islands  first!  And  the  navigator  of  the 
largest  ship  will  pass  into  the  strait  where  the  '  Nevsky  ' 
waits!  " 

"And "  Phillippi  was  jubilant  with  expectation. 

"  Well,  you  may  hear  of  an  outrage  by  the  wild  Kurile 
Islanders,  that's  all!  " — smiled  Tomlinson,  leaning  back  to 
enjoy  his  cigar. 

"  How  Zubow  hates  that  fool,  Maxutoff!  "  Phillippi  mused. 
"  He  will  risk  his  very  life  to  ruin  him! " 

"Ah!  you  don't  know  the  real  reason!  It  is  all  about 
that  princess  prima  donna,  or  prima  donna  princess, —  up 
there  at  Baranoff!  They  quarreled  to  the  death,  and  this 
is  Zubow's  revenge!  He  has  sworn  Maxutoff' s  ruin!  " — 

"Well!  We  can  trust  Serge!  But,  Tomlinson,  you  must 
get  your  lease  and  government  contracts  as  soon  as  you 
can!"  answered  Phillippi,  "for  Fersen  and  our  party  will 
be  in  full  control  by  next  year! — Then  we  will  be  the  Kings 
of  the  North  Pacific,  when  we  join  forces.  How  do  your 
matters  progress?  "  Phillippi  was  gravely  attentive. 

"  We  have  had  a  desperate  struggle  to  get  the  matter 
into  the  right  hands  at  Washington!  We  may  be  a  year 
later,  but  no  one  but  our  own  circle  can  reach  it!  You  can 

leave  me  your  full  directions  at  Washington  with "  he 

leaned  and  whispered  a  name. 

Phillippi  smiled  as  he  drank  a  brimming  toast.  "  Here 
goes  to  our  joint  company!  For  Serge  is  true!  We  will 
make  the  Emperor  pay  himself  for  bribing  his  councillors 
to  grant  us  our  monopoly!  Maxutoff  will  never  reach  the 
coveted  dignity  of  Prince  of  Alaska!  The  tribute  ships 
shall  both  be  ours.  You  must  do  your  part!  " 

Captain  Linieff,  out  at  sea,  pacing  the  quarter  deck  of 
the  "  Rurik  "  vainly  tried  to  console  Prince  Maxutoff.  As 
they  communed  over  the  future  of  Siberia  and  the  domin- 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  225 

ion  of  the  North  Pacific,  the  ex-Governor  unfolded  his 
heart  to  his  loyal  friend. 

"You  know  there  is  much  to  make  my  home  coming  the 
occasion  o  popular  clamor.  The  strange  Russians,  even 
in  repression,  are  intensely  patriotic.  Our  flag  yet  has 
never  lost  a  square  mile  of  conquered  ground.  This  sale 
is  looked  at  with  general  disfavor,  and  /  will  be  made  the 
scapegoat  of  any  misfortune.  I  have  closed  up  the 
Russian-American  Company's  unprofitable  affairs.  On  the 
whole,  there  has  been  a  very  great  loss!  When  Bassoff,  in 
1745,  brought  back  his  matchless  treasure  of  the  second 
trip,  in  the  richest  consignment  of  furs  the  world  had  ever 
seen,  the  days  of  the  Russian  fur  craze,  as  mad  as  the 
South  Sea  Bubble  fever,  began!  When  common  sailors 
brought  home  twenty  years  average  gains,  as  the  result  of 
a  four  months  trip,  the  popular  excitement  passed  all 
bounds ! — 

"Now,  beyond  the  gold  paid  for  Alaska,  the  greatest  rev 
enue  of  fifty  years  is  this  imperial  tribute,  endangered 
while  afloat! — The  gold  will  fall  forgotten  into  the  coffers 
of  the  Empire,  the  losses  of  the  Trading  Company  will  be 
remembered,  and  the  sale  of  our  great  American  domain 
will  be  deplored!  Seward  is  far  smarter  than  Gortschakoff ! 
Now,  if  any  accident  to  the  ships  should  happen,  I  would 
be  ruined — ruined!  And,  at  a  distance,  my  hands  tied,  my 
enemies  may  have  laid  snares!  Not  for  myself,  do  I  fear, 
but  for  my  brave  wife, — my  darling  Irma!  " 

"Prince  Gregory,  do  not  give  up  so  to  your  idle  fears!  " 
cried  hearty  Linieff. 

"See  here!  Our  publicists  will  look  at  the  other  side! 
Some  day,  the  English  will  build  a  railroad  to  the  Pacific! 
The  Yankees  are  doing  it  now!  It  is  almost  finished! 
They,  with  their  fleet  could  destroy  our  coast  settlements 
if  we  had  kept  that  trans-Pacific  realm!  With  their  Can 
adian  railroad,  they  would  be  invincible  on  that  side,  Our 


226  THK     PRI\(    I  5S     <  '!       \ 

real  point  to  guard  the  future  supplies  for  great  Siberia, 
will  be  easily  effected  by  our  friendship  with  the  Americans! 
We  laid  them  under  grave  obligations  in  their  civil  war! 
They  must  help  us  in  a  future  civil  war  with  England,  with 
privateers,  which  will  shelter  in  their  western  ports  and 
other  help!— Yankee  greed  will  do  the  work!  They  will 
repeat  the  tactics  of  the  English  traders  in  the  mad  civil 
war,  just  ended." — 

"But  I  am  sorry  to  see  the  great  realm  go  to  strangers! 
It  will  easily  return  a  hundred  millions  of  profit  to  the 
Americans  in  fifty  years.  We  could  not  keep  it!  I  was  in 
Behring  Sea,  when  the  old  transformed  Sea  King,  the 
Shenandoah,'  of  the  Confederate  States,  ran  into  the 
'Arctic!'  The  great  Yankee  whaling  fleet,  chasing  the 
*  bowhead,'  were  in  the  wake  of  their  daring  ocean  path 
finders!  " 

"Think  of  the  Ganges  in  1835,  finding  the  real  cruising 
ground  of  the  valuable  whale,  and  then  stumbling  into 
Kodiak!  The  Hercules  and  James  followed  in  1843,  an^ 
after  the  watery  trail  through  Behring  Strait  was  discovered, 
the  stern  captain  of  the  '  Saratoga'  pushed  alone  up  to  71° 
40  '  North,  in  185 1 !  A  simple  mariner,  reaching  the  highest 
point  near  the  pole  and  shaming  the  costly  discovery  fleets! 
What  men,  these  Yankees  on  their  dollar  hunting!  Nothing 
appals  them!  If  they  could  unite  on  a  wiser  policy  than 
that  chimera  of  equality,  which  will  wreck  them  yet,—  they 
would  rule  North  and  South  America!  " — 

"  You  do  not  believe  in  republics?  "  smiled  Maxutofi. 

"No!"  stoutly  answered  Linieff, — "Russia  is  strong, 
with  all  its  defects  of  code,  because  a  hereditary  crown 
gives  a  continuous  policy!  Germany  is  formidable  by  the 
ceaseless  military  energy  of  the  Hohenzollerns!  England's 
never  ceasing  game  of  acquisition  and  extension  is  handed 
down  by  every  wearer  of  the  crown!  In  America,  the 
nerve  activity,  surface  education  and  theoretical  eqmlity 


PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  227 

makes  every  tinker  dream  of  the  Presidency!  I  have 
travelled  among  these  strange  people! 

"The  heart  of  a  democracy  may  be  open  to  equity,  the 
head  of  the  people  very  often  goes  astray!  France  is  diffuse 
and  vacillating  under  the  republic,  where  as  many  talk  as 
work!  But  the  dash,  the  hardy  bravery  of  these  Americans, 
their  self-dependence  is  wonderful!  We  never  really  ex 
plored  the  great  river  Yukon,  that  huge  icy  artery  of  Alaska! 
But  a  single  American  steamboat  captain  took  the  little 
steamer  "Wilder"  this  year,  up  the  unknown  stream 
twelve  hundred  miles. — I  saw  him  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Yukon.  A  resolute  fellow,  his  name,  E.  E.  Smith!  He 
showed  a  dozen  times  the  fortitude  alone,  with  no  other  man 
to  advise,  than  the  hugely  overrated  Columbus  in  his  easy 
drift  over  the  Atlantic!  For  every  mile  of  this  terrific 
journey  was  beset  with  dangers  almost  insurmountable! 
Fear,  fatigue,  obstacles,  nothing  daunts  the  hardy  pushing 
American!^' — 

"  It  is  in  such  daring  feats  they  shine!  When  they  drop  into 
trading  they  become  as  petty  as  a  Greek!  But  their  boldness! 
Their  originality!  It  was  in  June,  1865,  even  after  their 
war  was  really  over  that  the  Confederate  Waddell  made  his 
desperate  diversion  in  that  famous  Corsair  run  around  the 
world!  For  he  destroyed  thirty  vessels,  worth  two  million 
dollars,  with  an  old  armed  merchant  steamer!  What  a 
sight!  I  will  never  forget  it!  He  fired  the  only  guns  ever 
discharged  in  war  in  the  Arctic  Ocean,  when  he  sank, 
burned  and  destroyed  ten  whalers,  in  one  day,  with  their 
rich  cargoes!  So  strange,  that  the  flag  of  the  rebel  States 
should  wave  in  triumph  under  the  northern  lights,  on  the 
28th  of  June,  two  months  after  the  great  war  was  over,  and 
the  mighty  Lee  had  gone  to  his  home,  in  the  heart-break  of 
defeat!  And  the  cunning  pirate  knew  the  war  was 
over!" 

"Who  but  a  wild  American  would  have  raced  to  the 


228  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

Arctic  Ocean  to  make  war?  It  was  little  credit  to  the 
Yankee  government  fleet  that  he  ran  her  around  the  world, 
later  in  safety,  to  distant  Liverpool.  You  can  see  from 
this,  how  the  splendid  English  fleet  would  have  ravaged  any 
explored  communities  we  had  on  that  lonely  shore!  It  was 
wise,  the  sale,  after  all!  " 

"What  a  romance  clings  around  the  North  Pacific!" 
mused  Maxutoff,  as  he  gazed  toward  the  Siberian  shore, 
now  but  a  day  distant.  "We  have  left  the  spot  where  auto 
cracy  and  democracy  have  peacefully  met,  in  circling  the 
world!  Which  will  last  the  longer,  in  the  future  storms  to 
come?  The  prophetic  policy  of  that  wonderful  genius, 
Peter  the  Great,  or  the  resultant  republican  effort  of  the 
patriots  of  America?  The  world  has  never  yet  done  justice 
to  great  Peter,  mad  with  the  great  power  of  an  unparalleled 
brain  power! — He  impressed  the  Russian  character  indeli 
bly!  He  alone  is  the  rock  on  which  we  are  builded!  And 
the  force  of  his  character  has  certainly  never  been  equalled! 
Violent,  an  Alexander  in  the  field  and  in  his  cups,  he  was  self- 
taught,  a  law  unto  himself,  and  a  mechanic,  law-giver,  states 
man,  general,  Czar!  The  modern  world  has  never  known 
his  equal!  The  magnificent  Corsican,  the  highest  embodi 
ment  of  intellectual  power,  the  culminating  human  mind  of 
his  century  died  in  defeat  and  despair,  at  St.  Helena,  his 
plans  crushed  out  by  the  mere  dead  weight  of  aroused 
Europe!  But  Peter's  policy  blossoms  anew  in  the  laurels  of 
each  succeeding  Czar!  East,  west,  and  south,  the  tramp  of 
our  Russian  legions  moves  steadily  on.  We  threaten  Europe, 
dominate  Asia,  and  when  Constantinople  has  been  won  and 
a  lodgment  made  on  the  Persian  Gu//,  what  then  remains 
for  the  Romanoffs?  " 

Maxutoff  spoke  with  a  pride  which  thrilled  LinierT! 

"But  one  sacred  duty  to  mark  the  close  of  the  century 
remains  to  supplement  Peter's  policy,  to  extend  it,  to  add 
to  its  grasping  vigor?  And  that  is," — said  the  Governor 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  22Q 

General! — "It  is  the  great  railroad  to  the  Corean  boundary 
on  the  Pacific,  with  its  telegraphs!  Then,  in  magnificently 
compact  strength,  Russia  can  gaze  at  England  holding  the 
seas  in  thrall  by  her  dauntless  fleets!  For  the  frontier  of 
China,  the  gates  of  India,  the  plains  of  Persia,  and  even 
Asia  Minor  will  be  menaced  by  the  greatest  Empire  of  the 
Twentieth  Century!  Our  Holy  Russia,  its  Baltic,  Black 
Sea  and  Pacific  ports  impregnable,  it  will  be  impregnable  in 
one  huge  continuous  realm,  and  great  Siberia,  thrown  open 
as  a  thoroughfare  of  the  world,  will  develop  its  wondrous 
riches!  The  Asiatic  trade  will  all  be  ours!  Peter,  grand, 
wonderful  giant  among  kings! — To  your  prophetic  policy, 
the  steamboat,  the  railway,  the  telegraph,  have  only  added 
to  the  power  of  the  Aladdin's  lamp  you  willed  to  your 
heirs!" 

"  It  is  right  to  draw  in  on  the  Asian  shore  lines!  We 
will  rule  the  great  mother  continent  of  the  world!  Even 
Catherine  I.,  the  doubtful  daughter  of  a  strolling  Swede, 
the  pauper  orphan,  a  common  soldier's  wife,  General 
Bauer's  minion,  Princess  Menschikoff's  servant,  the  play 
thing  of  Peter's  passion,  caught  from  his  very  enthusiasm, 
the  spirit  which,  when  she  wore  the  imperial  diadem  he 
gave  her,  made  her  plant  his  victorious  eagles  in  the 
Pacific!  To  the  erratic  child  of  this  fantastic  union,  the 
pleasure-loving  Elizabeth  Petrovma,  she  left  the  sacred 
injunction  to  hoist  the  double-headed  eagle  where  you 
have  hauled  it  down  saluted  by  the  guns  of  a  republic, 
then  undreamed  of ,  till  she  had  lain  for  twelve  long  years  in 
the  tomb!  " 

"The  weird  fancy  of  the  wildest  romance,  pales  before 
the  incredible  story  of  Catherine's  elevation  from  drudge 
to  Empress,—  before  the  simple  woman's  arts  which  made 
a  cast-off  menial  adventuress,  the  wearer  of  Russia's  ruby 
crown, — the  obscure  plot,  which,  after  Peter  had  slain  his 
son  Alexei, — and  Peter  II.  had  been  removed  by  small- 

15 


1HF,    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA. 

pox, — caused  an  army  surgeon  and  a  French  ambassador 
to  sweep  away  the  infant  Ivan's  baby  fingers  clutching  the 
sceptre!  " 

"It  brought  Elizabeth,  Catherine  and  Peter's  daughter, 
successively  to  the  throne,  though  with  gloomy  vindictive- 
ness,  he  had  decreed  that  each  ruler  should  name  a  suc 
cessor!  " 

"It  is  the  wildest  tale  of  history!"  mused  Maxutoff. 
"  What  guides  the  affairs  of  the  poor  human  spawn  who 
crawl  upon  this  earth!  " 

"The  gifts  of  fortune  were  lavished  upon  Catherine  I.  as 
upon  no  other  woman  who  had  ever  lived !  Mary  Queen  of 
Scots,  born  to  the  Realm  of  Scotland,  a  prospective  heir 
ess  by  marriage,  of  the  throne  of  France,  by  law  of  that 
of  England,  died  broken-hearted  in  defeat,  upon  the  block! 
The  beautiful,  stately  head  was  bowed  in  shame,  white 
with  the  snows  of  sorrow,  to  fall  under  the  vulgar  heads 
man's  stroke!  "- 

"  Mistress  of  all  arts,  of  diplomatic  games,  the  match 
less  star  of  beauty  and  of  grace,  her  blood  flowed  at  the 
nod  of  a  queenly  rival,  and  her  dynasty  disappeared  in 
hereditary  misfortunes!  The  sceptre  was  forever  banished 
from  Holyrood,  where  the  dainty  beauty  roused  the  chival- 
ric  Scots  to  a  pathetic  loyalty!  The  spider  builds  to-day 
in  her  love-haunted  palaces!  " — 

"But  this  child  of  chance,  dragged  up  into  the  fiercest 
light  of  Peter's  throne,  Catherine  /.,  left  the  tremendous 
gift  of  Fortune's  Secret  to  the  girl  she  bore  to  Peter,  and 
their  line  sways  to-day,  the  destinies  of  the  dwellers  from 
the  Pole  to  the  Caspian,  from  the  Pacific  to  the  Baltic! 
You  have  seen  me  the  trustee  of  the  huge  estate  which  the 
awful  fates  gave  to  Russia,  at  the  mandate  of  Peter's  daugh 
ter,  through  Behring  and  TchirikofT. — In  a  century,  ivho 
will  be  t)ie  masters  there?  \nfive  centuries,  will  there  be  a 
Russia,  an  America?  Blind  slaves  of  Fortune  are  we  all! 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  23! 

what  can  the  seer  foretell,  which  the  fool  may  not  fore 
stall? 

"And  in  a  hundred  and  fifty  years  of  trial,  Peter's  policy 
is,  after  all,  the  only  successful  one  in  European  statecraft! 
The  madman's  wisdom  has  withstood  even  the  assault  of 
the  grim  Fates!  "- 

"  Maxutoff  shivered  in  apprehension,  as  he  thought  of 
his  own  devious  life  path,  stretching  far  away  to  the 
Neva! 

"  What  awaits  me  in  the  dim  unknown  future?  " 

The  stars  did  not  answer  him!  And  was  it  in  mercy 
they  were  silent?  The  doom  of  Fate  hangs  in  awful  silence 
over  all! 

It  was  on  a  raw  wintry  day  that  the  stout  corvette 
"Rurik"  made  the  lights  on  Cape  Djaore  and  Cape 
Pronge.  The  straits  of  Tartary  were  filled  with  floating 
ice,  and  the  winter  storm  howled  madly,  rolling  along  huge 
breakers  in  the  shallow  channels. — 

Prince  Maxutoff,  eager  to  meet  his  old  friend,  General 
Dachkof,  and  push  on  to  St.  Petersburg,  felt  that  it  was 
his  very  salvation  to  speed  on,  and  to  counteract  the  cabal 
headed  by  Count  Fersen. 

u  I  would  not  attempt  to  land  any  man  but  you,  Prince," 
cried  gallant  Linieff,  as  he  gave  orders  to  launch  the  strong 
steam  launch,  while  the  heavy  war  vessel  rode  sullenly 
along  at  quarter  speed  on  the  dark  surge.  "  You  will  have 
a  rough  fifty  mile  trip  to  Nikolaevsk, — but  we  Russians 
fear  nothing, — when  the  Czar  bids  us  face  the  road!  "- 

Tears  stood  in  Maxutoff 's  eyes  when  he  grasped  Linieff 's 
hands,  in  adieu.  Scant  ceremony  was  there  for  the  part 
ing, — as  the  Governor  must  trust  to  a  sling  noose  to  reach 
the  launch,  wildly  pitching,  as  she  was  dragged  along  in 
tow — ! 

"  God  bless  you,  Gregory!  Trust  to  your  Emperor  to  re 
ward  you!  You  will  forget  these  cares  and  fears  in  the 


232  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

golden  circle  of  the  Winter  Palace.  Tell  General  Dachkof 
I'll  stand  off  and  on  till  I  can  bring  the  '  Rurik '  over  the 
bar  and  safe  into  the  river  delta.  Then,  I  can  receive  his 
orders!  Don't  fail  to  greet  your  delightful  consort  and  the 
fairy  Princess!  I  envy  you  your  happy  future!  " 

Away  over  the  heaving  waste  of  waters,  the  heavy  launch 
sped,  bravely  buffeting  the  icy  waves  pouring  over  her 
whaleback!  Captain  Linieff  turned  his  ship  out  to  the 
open  sea  for  safety,  even  though  the  rolling  seas  made  the 
strong  war  vessel  quiver  in  every  timber. 

"  If  the  Governor  has  no  orders,  I  will  run  out  beyond 
the  Kuriles,  until  the  storm  spends  itself." 

Fifty  miles  out  in  the  growing  dusk  of  the  evening,  the 
deck  officer  reported  the  Saghalin  guardboat  signalling  for 
'closer  communication!' — Linieff  sprang  to  the  quarter 
deck,  signal  book  in  hand,  and  in  a  few  moments,  the 
keen-eyed  midshipman  had  noted  the  full  message,  though 
the  parti-colored  flags  streamed  wildly  in  the  howling  gale. 
A  strange  presentiment  chilled  the  sailor's  heart,  as  he  read 
the  transcribed  message: 

"Russian  vessel  from  Sitka,  bound  home,  totally  wrecked, 
on  Yeterop  Island  of  the  Kuriles, — south  point.  Go  to 
assistance  of  crew.  Met  junk  in  La  Perouse  Strait  steer 
ing  for  Dui  for  help.  We  cannot  land  at  Nikolaevsk!  "  — 

"  My  God!  I  hope  it  is  not  Maxutoff's  fur  ship!"  groaned 
Linieff,  as  he  dictated  a  brief  message  ordering  his  launch 
picked  up,  on  its  return,  and  a  brief  report  to  General 
Dachkof  telling  why  he  had  stood  out  to  the  Kuriles!  Then 
with  a  heavy  heart,  the  Captain  ordered  full  speed  and  bade 
his  navigator  shape  the  course  for  La  Perouse  Straits!— 

"Alas!    Poor  Gregory!     If  it  is  the  wreck  ffear,  he  will 

hear  the  news  soon  enough  at  Petersburg." 

And  so  out  into  the  howling  storm,  the  "  Rurik  "  sped, 
while  Prince  Gregory  forgot  his  haunting  cares  in  General 
Dachkof's  royal  welcome.  With  the  habitual  caution  of  a 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  233 

diplomat,  made  doubly  timorous  by  his  fears,  Prince  Maxu- 
toff  warily  listened  to  General  Dachkof  and  held  back  all 
reference  to  the  brief,  sweet  and  tragical  love  episode  of 
the  Orlofs.  At  noon  of  the  next  day  the  wild  Tartar 
horses  reared  and  plunged  in  the  great  furred  sleigh.  In 
the  boxes  beneath,  every  comfort  for  the  road  was  stored, 
and  the  steel  blue  lance  heads  of  a  dozen  Cossacks  gleamed 
viciously,  as  the  escort  reined  up  their  ponies.  Revolver, 
carbine  and  sabre,  with  double  ammunition  pouches,  made 
these  men  able  to  cope  with  the  wild  Mantchurians  emerg 
ing  from  the  gloomy  Chinese  banks  of  the  Amur. 

With  a  chorus  of  wild  yells,  Maxutoff  was  whirled  away, 
waving  his  turban  to  gallant  Dachkof,  who  had  drained 
the  stirrup  cup  '  to  the  Czar' — and  then  shattered  the  glass! 
Seven  thousand  versts  in  a  wild  snow  wilderness,  haunted 
by  wolves  and  the  ferocious  famished  tigers  of  Mongolia, — 
gloomy  wastes  infested  with  desperate  convicts,  wild  Khir- 
gis  and  escaped  criminals,  lay  between  the  traveler  and 
the  gracious  Emperor,  whose  reward  awaited  him!  He 
had  passed  Khabarofka,  when  the  Saghalin  guard  boat  took 
up  the  launch,  and  sent  on  Captain  Linieff  s  dispatch  to 
headquarters. — 

General  Dachkof  fretted  as  he  read  the  message  from 
the  mouth  of  the  Amur. 

"Bad  Luck!  I  need  the  '  Rurik '— at  once!  And  I 
could  have  sent  this  important  news  on  by  the  post  sleigh, 
with  Maxutoff.  All  seems  to  go  wrong! 

But  it  was  worst  of  all  for  the  anxious  Prince,  who  was 
now  madly  dashing  along  through  the  savage  valley  where 
Khabarof,  in  1651,  with  a  hundred  and  fifty  volunteers  held 
the  Amur  gorges  against  the  wild  archer  descendants  of 
bloody  Ghenghis  Khan.  The  whole  path  to  Irkutsk,  on 
the  diamond  jewel  water  of  Asia,  great  Lake  Baikal,  was 
haunted  with  memories  of  Cossack  bravery,  of  Cossack 
loyalty  arid  Cossack  craft!  Away,  past  the  spot  where  the 


234  TIIK    PRINCESS   OF    ALASKA. 

Tungus  tribes  yielded  to  the  Czar's  horsemen  in  1639,  Max- 
utoff  passed  through  the  scenes  of  the  struggle  with  Khirghis 
and  Mongolian,  which  for  one  hundred  and  sixty  years 
made  the  mystic  river,  a  vale  of  bloody  encounter. 

But  Peter's  will  conquered  even  here!  The  Little  Khir 
ghis,  in  1731,  ceased  to  lift  the  lance  in  war,  in  1781,  the 
Central  Khirghiz  followed,  and  only  in  1847  did  the  great 
Khirghiz  Horde,  the  last  ferocious  sons  of  Genghis, yield  to 
the  prophetic  mandate  of  that  Iron  Czar,  now  sleeping 
peacefully  in  the  white  marble  tomb  on  the  Neva! 

"Whence  comes  the  Russian  loyalty,  from  love  or  from 
the  lash?  "  thought  Maxutoff.  "  Is  it  pride  in  the  onward 
march  of  the  yellow  flag  with  its  black  eagles?  " 

Ivan,  the  Terrible,  brought  the  hosts  of  Yedigee  to  their 
knees  in  1555,  the  great  Stroganoff  and  Demidoff  families 
pushed  over  the  Urals,  Ivan  IV  grasped  the  Kama  River, 
and  the  Stroganoffs,  with  the  wild  Don  Cossacks,  drove 
Kuchum's  vast  army  south  in  China!  The  unlettered  Cos 
sacks,  building  Tobolsk  in  1587, — returning  the  compli 
ment  of  a  Tartar  invasion, — grasped  Siberia  and  marched 
to  the  Pacific,  for  Attassof,  in  1697,  had  brought  even  the 
silent  land  of  ice  and  volcanoes,  mystic  Khamschatka,  under 
the  Iron  Czar's  rule! — 

"Nothing  withstands  the  Cossack!"  mused  Maxutoff. 
Leaving  their  own  treeless  plains,  their  wild  riders  became 
boatmen,  woodsmen,  fishers,  sailors,  hunters, — and  even  baf 
fled  the  wily  Mongolians  in  wit!  The  vagaries  of  overloaded 
technical  scientific  explorers  seem  poor  and  paltry  before  the 
deeds  of  Buza,  Stadukhin  and  the  daring  Deshniew.  These 
men  conquered  without  maps  the  virgin  icy  desert  of  North 
Siberia!  They  threaded  the  awful  frozen  wastes  where  the 
mammoth  and  elephant,  the  beasts  and  reptiles  of  a  pre 
historic  age,  lie  still  gripped  in  the  blue  crystal  coffin  of 
ice  unmelted  for  six  thousand  years!  There,  in  an  eternity 
of  Death,  they  lie  among  the  flowers  and  fronded  palms, 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA. 

the  giant  foliage  which  once  nodded  at  the  congealed  Sibe 
rian  rivers! 

Is  there  any  magic  like  the  hidden  chemistry  of  nature? 
Imagination  can  not  paint  a  history  with  as  many  unturned 
leaves,  with  the  print  of  the  Creator  fresh  ^fadeless  colors, 
as  that  of  the  atomy  speck,  hurled  through  space,  which 
we  mortals  call  the  world! — 

The  three  great  Cossack  explorers  builded  ships,  with 
rude  self-taught  art,  and  conquered  the  Lena,  the  Yanaand 
the  Kolyma!  The  bones  of  bold  Buza  are  long  crumbled  to 
ashes!  The  wild  Cossack  died  long  before  Lefort,  the 
forgotten  Genevese,  taught  Peter  the  Great  the  arts  of  civ 
ilization  and  lit  the  flame  of  the  fierce  mental  ambitions 
of  the  Russian  Czar,  which,  dating  from  1682,  blazes  even 
brighter  to-day! 

To  the  great  Lefort,  his  teacher,  to  the  genius  of  Natalia 
Narychkine,  his  patrician  mother,  Peter  the  Great  owed 
his  mental  elevation!  Nothing  came  to  him  from  Czar 
Alexei  Michailovitch  but  the  right  to  reach  out  his  boyish 
hand,  for  the  bloodiest  crown  on  earth!  His  own  headlong 
mental  courage,  his  imperious  soul,  made  him  at  once 
father,  creator,  builder,  and  prophet  of  his  barbarous  land! 
To  Peter,  was  given  the  right  to  make  the  Russian  Bear's 
growl  echo  around  the  world!  He  caught  up  the  secrets 
of  the  three  roving  Cossacks.  He  followed  Buza,  in  mind, 
— in  his  desperate  voyage,  eastwardly — down  the  Lena  to 
the  Yana!  The  bold  adventurer  was  "  the  first  who  ever 
burst  into  that  silent  sea," — lapping  the  towering  icebergs 
drifted  from  the  mystic  Pole !  Stadukhin  carried  the  Cossack 
pennant  on  from  the  Yana  to  the  Kolyma  and  builded  there, 
an  outpost  city!  Last  of  all,  Deshniew,  with  intrepid 
heart,  gathered  his  fleet  of  seven  vessels,  a  phantasmal 
creation,  and  burst  headlong  from  the  Arctic  into  the  Pa 
cific!  The  first  northern  discoverer! — 

The  oblivion  of  two  hundred  years  covers  the  name  of 


236  THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALA 

Deshniew.  Nordenskiold  succeeded  to  Behrmg  s  aoubtful 
honors  when  he  arrived  at  Yokohama  in  later  years,  in 
1879,  having  at  last  achieved  the  northeast  passage!  For 
twenty-five  years,  the  Cossacks  in  their  frail  barks  essayed 
it,  but  Deshniew  at  last  burst  the  seal  of  the  silent  ages, 
and/6>//;/</  Khamschatka!  The  Russian  Eagle  was  planted 
there  forever! 

"What  does  not  Russia  owe  to  the  strange  clan  of  the 
Cossack!"  Maxutoff  exclaimed.  "  A  race  unknown  till  the 
tenth  century, — the  very  incarnation  of  military  heroism, 
— they  are  now  the  brightest  jewel  of  the  Russian  crown! 
For  to  the  Cossacks  Buza,  Stadukhin,  Deshniew,  Khabarof, 
and  Attassof,  the  white  Czar  owes  to-day,  a  land  two  and  a 
half  times  as  large  as  European  JRussia,  and  twenty-five  times 
larger  than  Germany!  The  Czarevitch  is  proud  to  grate 
fully  accept  the  title  of  Ataman  of  the  Don  Cossacks! — 

The  StroganofTs  and  Demidoffs  followed  up  these  wild 
men  and  the  gems,  mines  and  riches  of  the  Trans-Ural 
were  soon  theirs!  When  by  Patrick  Gordon's  sword  and 
Lefort's  counsel,  Peter  finally  seized  the  crown  from  his 
half  sister,  the  Regent  Sophia,  he  followed  the  track  of  the 
immortal  five  robbers  with  the  imperial  finger!  When  his 
whole  family  had  at  last  bowed  to  his  commanding  genius, 
Peter  then  reached  out  across  the  sea  for  the  New  World! 
The  Czar  was  tutored  by  the  Cossack!  Two  hundred  years 
later,  De  Long,  bearing  the  star  flag  of  America,  miserably 
perished  where  the  hardy  Cossacks  survived  and  calmly 
began  a  search  for  new  worlds,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Lena! 
The  lessons  of  these  resolute  Cossacks  are  monitors  to  a 
faint-hearted  later  world,  and  shame  the  pinchbeck  explor 
ers  of  our  effete  century! — 

Back  from  the  scenes  where  Behring  and  TchirikofT  car 
ried  Peter's  immortal  mandates  over  the  stormy  ocean, 
Maxutoff  sped  away  over  the  endless  winter  plains  of 
Siberia!  Day  after  day,  in  his  ceaseless  onward  career,  he 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  237 

traversed  the  national  line  of  the  coming  railway,  a  wild 
dream  to  him  then,  but  whose  construction  is  the  opening 
triumph  of  the  Twentieth  Century! 

When  Alexander  III,  on  March  17,  1891,  devoted  by 
Imperial  rescript  four  hundred  millions  of  dollars  to  build 
a  four  thousand  miles  railroad  to  the  Pacific,  the  august 
spirit  of  Peter's  undying  genius  thrilled  in  the  very  nerves 
which  guided  the  pen! — The  world  itself  will  be  a  debtor 
to  the  five  great  Cossacks! — Human  oblivion  is  but  the 
mental  eclipse  of  fools!  The  stars  shine  behind  the 
cloud!  And  in  the  Walhalla  of  the  world's  great  explor 
ers  the  five  Cossack  chiefs  are  seated  among  the  greatest! 

The  mad,  fantastic  irony  of  fate  which  divorced  a  wife 
of  the  noble  Lapoukin  blood,  named  by  his  haughty 
mother, — the  cabals  which  shut  up  his  sisters  in  convents, 
— the  dark  fate  which  sacrificed  his  son  Alexei, — all  these, 
led  to  the  succession  of  that  wonderful  child  of  fortune, 
Catherine,  and  handed  down  the  crown  to  the  fruit  of  their 
ill-stained  union,  Elizabeth! 

The  wily  paramour  who  outwitted  the  Turks  and  saved 
defeated  Peter,  had  the  lofty  spirit  of  sympathy  and  fidel 
ity,  and  to  her  and  her  child,  with  their  brave  servants, 
Behring  and  Tchirikoff,  Russia  owes  to-day  the  command 
ing  position  she  holds  in  the  world.  What  ghastly  memo 
ries  of  crime,  of  intrigue,  what  faded  dreams  of  pomp  and 
vanished  power  cling  around  the  row  of  marble  tombs  on 
the  island  of  the  Neva!  And  r<?/,  to-day, — Peter's  electric 
spirit  twinkles  on  every  Russian  bayonet!  Let  him  who 
sneers  at  woman  marvel  that  his  adventuress  wife  and  min 
ion  daughter  carried  the  eagles  of  conquest  farther  east 
than  even  the  Iron  Czar! — Heart  of  fire, — a  magnificent 
plaything  of  fortune,  Peter's  strangely  met  consort  was 
unique! — • — 

General  Dachkof  fretted  as  he  daily  watched  the  signal 
tower  at  Nikolaevsk  and  saw  the  grip  of  the  winter  king  on 


238  Tin-:    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

the  lower  Amur.  A  month  and  a  half  had  elapsed  since 
Captain  Linieff  put  out  in  the  howling  storm  to  search  the 
Kurile  Islands  for  the  shipwrecked  Russians.  The  Gen 
eral's  brow  was  dark,  for  complaints  had  reached  him  of 
the  starving  natives  of  Khamschatka  and  the  absence  of 
Prince  Serge  Zubow, — Count  Fersen's  delegated  marshal 
of  the  north! 

"  Confound  him!"  growled  the  veteran.  "  He  is  always 
absent! — Roving  over  the  North  Pacific  on  his  self-consti 
tuted  fleet,  the  'Nevsky*  and  that  great  lumbering  brig 
'Kodiak! '  "  Dark  stories  had  even  reached  the  kind- 
hearted  General  of  Zubow's  rapacity, — his  cruelty,  his 
garnered  fur  magazines,  his  illicit  trade  in  rum, — and  the 
mysterious  voyages  of  his  unlicensed  ships!  "What  can  I 
do?"  mourned  the  Governor  General  of  Eastern  Siberia! 
"My  power  ends  at  Cape  Lopatka,  and  I  have  my  own 
future  to  guard!  If  I  complained  Count  Fersen  would 
baffle  me!  He  seems  to  be  playing  at  Damon  and  Pythias 
with  this  brute  Tartar!  I  would  only  have  two  enemies 
the  more!  Ah!  Russia! — land  of  fear  and  dissimulation! 
The  spy  lurks  in  the  very  anteroom  of  the  palace,  at  the 
glittering  mess,  in  the  salons,  where  the  white-bosomed 
beauties  flash  dangerous  secrets  with  a  wave  of  the  fan,  or 
a  gleam  from  lustrous  eyes!  Soldiers,  servants,  friends, 
strangers,  even  the  beggars,  the  clouds  of  police  and 
hordes  of  officials, — all  are  one  great  network  of  timorous, 
dangerous,  rascally  spies!  " 

At  last  the  long  suspense  was  broken!  The  Saghalin 
guard  boat  brought  a  dispatch  from  Captain  Linieff  at 
Yokohama!  It  had  been  forwarded  up  the  splendid 
Empress  road  of  Niphon  from  the  Russian  Ambassador  at 
Tokio.  Linieff  had  found  only  the  battered  ribs  of  a  large 
Russian  ship!  She  had  been  stripped  and  entirely  dis 
mantled  by  the  thievish  Kurile  Islanders  eager  to  obtain 
her  fastenings  and  use  her  material  for  junk  building. 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

The  closing  lines  were  full  of  sad  portent  for  the  princely 
traveler  now  speeding  on  between  Irkutsk  and  Tobolsk! 

For  Gregory  Maxutoff,  dreaming  little  that  black  care  fol 
lowed  him  fast,  was  well  over  the  huge  Yenesei  and  push 
ing  on  quickly  toward  the  Obi! — These  gigantic  water 
arteries  of  Siberia,  their  huge  rivers  draining  alluvial 
wastes  replete  with  gems  and  seamed  with  gold,  are  of  vast 
immensity !  Maxutoff's  wildest  flight  of  fancy  little  dreamed 
that  thirty  years  later,  three  barges  with  fifteen  hundred 
tons  of  steel  rails  would  be  towed  from  Europe  around 
North  Cape  into  the  very  heart  of  Siberia  by  the  Yenesei! 
The  dreams  of  Cossack  Buza  are  more  than  realized! 

The  silent  Lena,  three  thousand  miles  in  length,  flows  to 
the  delta  where  the  American  polar  expedition  starved,  in  a 
sheet  six  miles  wide,  a  hundred  miles  from  De  Long's  grave! 
What  future  magic  of  commerce,  when  a  new  world's  high 
way  is  opened!  When  the  iron  horse  follows  the  tracks  of 
the  bold  Cossacks  of  the  fifteenth  century!  Man,  of  all  the 
animals,  alone  superior  to  change  of  habitat  and  essential 
condition,  will  probe  the  farthest  antres  of  the  Siberian 
wastes  for  that  magic  gold  which  Maxutoff  dreamed  of  in 
its  island  treasury,  as  he  sped  on  happy-hearted! — 

He  dreamed,  too,  of  the  dear  faces  around  the  samovar 
at  Dresden,  for  even  now,  Princess  Beatrice,  the  siren- 
voiced  Olga  and  laughing  Irma,  were  bringing  the  romance 
of  Baranoff  Castle  into  the  Butzow  mansion! 

Alas!  While  he  dreamed,  hardy  old  General  Dachkof 
groaned  as  he  threw  down  Linieff's  dispatch!  The  very 
last  clauses  told  him  of  a  great  disaster! 

"  I  fear,"  wrote  Linieff,  "  that  the  lost  ship  was  the  large 
fur  transport!  The  lying  natives  told  me  a  vessel  had 
taken  off  the  crew! — But  of  what  nationality,  I  know  not! 
Whatever  plunder  these  rude  thieves  obtained  was  secreted. 
I  am  now  under  the  orders  of  the  admiral  to  wait  here  a 
month  and  ther^  convoy  the  spring  fleet  north  to  the  Amur! 


111K    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA. 

I  fear  that  this  mishap  will  bring  about  a  serious  future 
trouble  to  Prince  Gregory!  " — 

"The  fortu ncs  of  war!  The  cnances  of  peace!"  said 
Dachkof.  "  We  stumble  along  blindest  when  our  senses 
are  relaxed  in  the  brief  sunny  glimpses  of  prosperity!  " 

And  the  soldier  sadly  addressed  himself  to  the  unvary 
ing  drudgery  of  his  great  office. — "I  need  a  ship  sorely!  If 
Serge  Zubow  were  only  available!  "  But  he  was  fain  to 
grumble  in  vain,  for  native  canoes  coasting  around  the 
Ochotsk  brought  him  news  that  the  wilfull  Prince  was  far 
away  on  a  long  cruise. — "Then,  the  Starosts  and  village 
chiefs  will  be  in  wild  riot  until  the  spring  inspections!" 
Dachkof  was  heartsick. 

The  February  snows  lay  glistening  around  the  fair  city 
of  the  Saxons  where  the  charming  Elbe  valley  smiles 
around  the  Florence  of  Germany.  The  afternoon  sun 
sparkling  on  the  tower  of  the  Frauenkirche,  a  glittering 
vision  in  crystal  tracery,  shone  down  upon  Dresden, 
beloved  of  the  aesthetic  Teuton.  The  staid  burghers, 
home-loving  and  prosperous,  gazed  with  pride  at  the  vota 
ries  of  art,  the  pilgrims  of  many  lands  streaming  in  to  the 
magic  portals  of  the  great  gallery!  Lean-faced,  ferret- 
eyed  Yankee,  rapt  Italian,  impassive  Briton,  turbaned 
Turk  and  ardent  Gaul,  in  knots  and  groups,  paused  before 
the  matchless,  wistful  tenderness  of  the  Sistine  Madonna, 
the  liquid  coloring  of  Coreggio,  or  the  sensuous  witchery  of 
Titian's  glowing  visions  of  beauty. — From  patrician  to  ple- 
bian,  calm,  critical  age  to  the  kindling  eye  of  youth,  the 
varied  sentient  types  of  mankind  passed  in  review,  a  mot 
ley  procession  drinking  in  the  poetic  impress  of  the  mighty 
giants  of  art.  The  fifteen  hundred  canvases  on  the  walls 
of  the  Gallery  are  a  glorious  triumph  of  time!  The  deli 
cate  "visions  flitting  impalpably "  before  the  chastened 
eye  of  the  rapt  creative  artist  live  here  to  lead  upward  in 
the  deathless  allegories  of  Truth  and  Beauty!  The  turret 


THE  PRINCESS  OP  ALASKA.  241 

bells  chiming  musically,  the  crested  heights  whereon  no 
hostile  batteries  now  mocked  God's  truce  of  human  broth 
erhood,  the  brooding  peace,  were  all  elements  of  the  flow 
of  civilization,  in  the  beautiful  landscape,  the  gentle  atmos 
phere  of  homely  German  enthusiasm  and  all  that  speaks 
of  the  world's  renaissance. 

Before  a  wondrous  "Venetian  Lady,"  Arthur  Randolph, 
with  youth's  fire  lighting  his  brow>  sat  and  toiled  in  the 
renewed  intensity  of  the  artist  fever  which  devours,  while 
seeking,  expression.  Passing  dilettantes  cast  a  glance  at 
the  growing  similitude  of  the  copy,  but  their  eyes  soon 
wandered  to  the  graceful  group  gathered  at  the  artist's 
side.  Princess  Maxutoff,  her  fair  face  clouded  with  gently 
repressed  anxiety,  fixed  her  kindly  eyes  upon  the  youth 
intent  upon  his  task.  Restraining  the  eagerness  of  Irma, 
Olga  Orlof  gazed  upon  the  world,  in  petto,  passing  in 
review!  It  was  a  dream  fabric,  an  awakening,  the  return 
of  life  to  her  brooding  heart,  so  long  pent  up  with  the 
unvarying  routine  of  the  Alaskan  eyrie  on  Kalatan's  rock! 
She  little  recked  that  the  passing  stranger  found  her  deli 
cate  face,  with  its  marvellous  eyes,  a  lovelier  theme  than 
the  passive  beauties  "on  the  line!11  The  simplicity  of  her 
robes,  her  nameless  air  of  distinction,  the  seal  of  nature's 
finest  nobility,  the  romantic  combination  of  her  golden 
hair  shading  the  matchless  eyes,  the  Venus  pose  of  her 
moulded  form,  caused  the  eyes  of  youth  and  gallant  to 
glow  with  the  unconscious  tribute  of  an  admiration  not  to 
be  repressed. — 

"It  is  time  to  leave!  Irma!  Your  further  art  education 
must  wait  for  the  opening  of  Arthur's  studio !  "  said  Countess 
Olga,  as  the  shadows  deepened  in  the  corners  of  the  long 
corridor. 

"And  /  am,  at  your  service!  "  brightly  cried  Arthur 
Randolph,  gathering  his  colors.  "A  few  days  more,  and 
my  fingers  will  resume  their  dexterity!  But,  when  shall  I 


242  I  HE    PRINCESS    ol     ALASKA. 

have  the  sittings? — My  new  studio  will  be  all  in  order  next 
week." 

"  Not  until  you  have  jointly  finished  the  arrangement  of 
my  winter  resting  place!  "  interjected  the  Princess,  as  the 
party  slowly  moved  to  the  great  entrance,  where  the 
carriage  awaited  them! 

"I  am  at  your  orders,  Princess,"  gaily  answered  Ran 
dolph,  "  but  I  must  beg  the  fulfillment  of  Countess  Olga's 
promise!  I  shall  acquit  you  of  all  the  claims  of  a  faithful 
servitor  when  my  poor  art  is  essayed  to  catch  the  ex 
pression  of  the  Lady  of  Sitkal  A  month  has  already 
glided  away!  It  seems  as  if  we  had  drifted  back,  out  from 
under  the  northern  lights  into  another  world!  ''• 

Countess  Orlof,  leaning  back  in  the  carriage,  gazed 
fondly  upon  gentle  Princess  Beatrice.  Her  friend's  eyes  were 
shaded  with  the  never  absent  anxiety  of  awaiting  the  telegram 
ot  Prince  MaxutorT's  arrival  at  Nijni  Novgorod. — From  the 
fair  city  by  the  Golden  Gates  of  the  blue  Pacific  to  the 
gates  of  Dresden,  in  a  daily  increasing  friendship,  the 
Arctic  pilgrims  had  passed  on  through  scenes  grown 
strangely  unfamiliar  to  the  long  exiled  ladies. — 

Arthur  Randolph's  self-imposed  task  was  done,  when  the 
wayfarers  found  a  winter  home  prepared,  with  the  ready 
aid  of  the  Butzows,  who  welcomed  gladly  the  graceful 
addition  to  the  already  brilliant  Russian  colony.  It  was 
the  dawn  of  another  life  to  Olga!  A  haven  of  peace  and 
rest!  And  Princess  Irma  of  Alaska,  the  child  of  snows, 
fluttered  out  in  the  quick  expansion  of  eager  childhood,  a 
hovering  butterfly. 

But  in  the  now  happy  circle,  for  Arthur  Randolph's  wel 
come  home  to  his  beloved  brethren  of  art,  had  inspired 
him  anew,  thera  was  but  one  serious  face! — Loving  Beatrice 
Maxutoff's  heart  was  hungry  for  tidings  of  the  lonely  man 
ever  dashing  on  in  snow  a^d  ~form, — '  ///  the  name  of  the 
Czar!  ' 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  243 

The  doors  of  Madame  Maxutoff's  home  received  the 
returning  art  worshipers,  and,  as  Arthur  Randolph,  laugh 
ingly  promised  to  return  and  join  the  hospitable  Russian 
family  circle  at  dinner,  he  noted  the  air  of  astonishment 
with  which  Countess  Orlof  received  the  butler's  announce 
ment:  "A  lady  stranger  in  the  drawing-room  desires  to  see 
Madame  la  Comtesse!" 

"  To  see  me!  "  said  Olga  in  wonderment.  "  Have  you 
her  card?" 

The  grave  servitor  answered,  bowing:  "I  was  desired  to 
say  'A  lady  from  St.  Petersburg?" 

Countess  Olga  was  very  pale,  as  she  passed  forward, 
while  Arthur  wonderingly  took  his  departure.  In  all  her 
sisterhood  of  years  with  Beatrice  Maxutoff,  her  lips  avoided 
framing  that  ominous  name  "St.  Petersburg!" 

Arthur's  fleeting  glance  caught  only  the  outline  of  a 
graceful  figure  and  the  graces  of  youth,  as  the  mysterious 
stranger  rose. 

"The  stride  of  a  Diana!  I  must  hasten  the  ceremonies 
of  my  toilette.  Perhaps,  the  Russian  visitor  may  fill  a 
sketch-book  corner! '' 

Countess  Olga  gazed  expectantly  at  a  silent  girl  of  twenty 
who  stood  smiling  archly,  with  outstretched  arms!  Her 
brown  eyes  were  winning  in  their  appealing  glances,  as  she 
started  forward  with  girlish  impulsiveness.  In  puzzled 
surprise,  Olga  saw  the  Butzow  equipage,  before  the  door. 
— It  was  impossible  to  resist  the  charm  of  a  voice  vibrating 
with  a  tender  appeal,  as  the  beauty  clasped  the  stately 
Countess  to  her  breast. 

"  Don't  you  know  me?     I  am  Vera  Orlof !  " 

And  when  Beatrice  Maxutoff  entered,  at  Olga's  joyous 
summons,  the  light  of  a  newly  found  love  and  an  unhopedfor 
happiness  shone  in  Olga's  eyes!  - 

"Here  is  one  who  has  come  from  the  Neva  to  welcome 
us  home!  I  am  so  happy,  Beatrice,  for  my  little  Stephan 
for  the  first  time,  will  see  an  Orlof!  " 


244  THE   PRINCESS   OF  ALASKA. 

Olga's  voice  was  quivering  with  an  intensity  of  new  feel 
ing,  but  Vera,  bright  and  eager,  won  instantly  Princess 
Maxutoff's  heart,  as  turning  her  trustful  eyes  on  the  woman 
who  had  saved  Fedor's  wife,  she  whispered  : 

"  You  also,  must  love  me!  I  am  your  friend  for  life, — 
for  Olgds  sake!  " 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA,  245 


CHAPTER  IX. 

A   TIMELY   WARNING — BUTZGW'S    BULLETIN — THE     EMPEROR'S 

WELCOME — THE     NIJNI     NOVGOROD     PRISON     PEN A 

MISSING    PRINCE — "  WE    MUST  TRUST  TO    VERA" 
THE  LITTLE  PRINCESS  LOSES  HER  COR 
ONET — ON   THE    FARALLONES. 

Arthur  Randolph,  in  mystified  astonishment,  sought  for 
the  reason  of  the  sudden  access  of  joyous  excitement  in 
the  Maxutoff  household,  as  he  furtively  examined  himself 
in  the  drawing-room  mirror  on  his  return. 

From  the  upper  chambers  came  to  his  ears  the  sound  of 
merry  laughter  and  feminine  glee.  He  hastily  assured 
himself  that  he  was  en  regie,  for  the  butler,  with  pardonable 
pride,  whispered: 

"Monsieur  Arthur!  The  great  Countess  Vera  Orlof  from 
St.  Petersburg!  Ah!  Ciel!  What  a  beauty!  Like  Mar 
guerite  in'Les  Huguenots! '  Elle  avraiement  le  chic!  The 
heiress  of  the  House  of  Orlof !  But,  the  little  Count  Ste- 
phan, — it  is  he  who,  one  day,  will  be  the  Orlof!"  — 

"  Qu'  on  est  bien  a  vingt  ans!  "  sings  Beranger,  and  Arthur 
Randolph  was  soon  the  centre  of  the  very  happiest  circle 
in  beautiful  Dresden!  Dainty  Irma  had  also  found  a  new 
friend!  Madame  Maxutoff  was  eager  to  learn  all  the 
social  details  of  the  six  years  of  her  absence.  The  vague 
lore  of  womanhood's  confidences  was  to  be  conned  over, 
as  Vera  Orlof,  the  heiress  of  a  rich  and  haughty  line,  the 
wit  and  darling  of  the  circle  of  Maids  of  Honor,  was  so 
near  the  throne  that  the  greatest  secrets  of  state,  as  well  as 
gossip  of  maid  and  gallant,  were  caught  up  easily  by  the 
insouciante  beauty! — Olga  Orlof 's  exquisite  face  glowed 
with  the  pride  of  happy  motherhood,  for  she  had  at  last 
seen  her  little  Stephan  clinging  to  the  breast  of  the  impe 
rious  beauty,  now  the  head  of  the  Orlof  si — 
13 


246  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

"You  must  let  me  love  him,  Olga,"  tenderly  said  the 
visitor.  "  For  he  will  displace  me  some  day!  He  will  rule 
our  h^iisc!  You  and  I  will  losc^  but  to  love  him  more!  For 
when  he  has  been  fitted  for  his  station,  he  will  go  out,  at 
the  head  of  his  command  In  the  name  of  the  Czar!  Oh! 
1  have  his  future  already  mapped  out!  He  is  mine  as  well 
as  yours!  I  have  come  hither  simply  to  weave  my  web 
around  Stephan, — for  I  must  have  him!  I  know  I  shall  hold 
you!  I  have  so  much  to  say,  to  tell  you!  My  two  weeks 
are  hardly  long  enough.1' 

"And  must  you  go  homeward  so  soon?  "  earnestly  asked 
Beatrice. 

"  The  Empress  says  that  she  looks  forward  always  with 
pleasure  to  my  month  on  duty!"  gaily  cried  Vera.  "  And, 
so  make  the  most  of  me,  for  I  am  bidden  to  the  palace  the 
next  month!  " 

As  the  vivacious  girl,  in  loyal  Russian  mirth,  drank  to 
the  '  Emperor  and  Empress,'  in  mimic  abandon,  Arthur 
wondered  at  the  union  of  German  seriousness,  Gallic  wit 
and  finish,  and  the  sweet  tenderness  of  the  Russian  maiden 
of  rank,  in  the  demeanor  of  the  young  Countess. — 

It  was  years  before  he  knew  better  the  distinguishing 
elegance  of  the  girl  graduates  of  the  Catherine  Institute. 
The  dreams  of  introducing  even  the  polite  culture  of  wo 
men  into  uncouth  Russia,  which  wild  Peter  imparted  to 
Martha  Rabe, —  the  unknown  Swede's  daughter,  —  were 
handed  down  by  her^  when,  as  the  great  Catherine  /,  she 
passed  the  heavy  imperial  crown  down,  to  go  through 
other  hands,  to  Sophia  of  Zerbst,  little  "  Figchen  "  of  doubt 
ful  paternity!  Whether  Frederic  the  Great,  the  elegant 
Betzky^  or  simple  Christian  of  Anhalt  was  the  father  of 
the  greater  Catherine  //,  is  now  of  no  moment\  The  two 
Empresses  rest  in  the  great  fortress  church,  but  history 
rings  with  their  great  deeds! — 

In  all  the  wild  license,  the  burning  ambitions,  and  stormy 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  247 

discord  of  Catherine  II's  life,  it  is  to  her  honor  that  the 
"  Smolni  Monastyr"  was  made  the  safe  treasury  of  Russia's 
promising  girl  children!  To-day,  the  mystic  palace  school 
on  the  Neva  banks  is  a  model  of  womanly  education. — 
For  the  girl  who  played  with  the  rosy  peasant  children  in 
the  streets  of  Stettin,  became  an  Empress;  even  as  great 
as  Elizabeth  of  England!  The  '  Kaiserlinde,'  planted  by 
her  childish  hand,  has  long  since  withered  away, — chubby 
German  peasant  children  dance  no  more  under  that  spread 
ing  lime  tree, — for  an  Empress  of  Prussia  and  her  sister  of 
Russia  treasure  to-day  tables  made  from  its  famous  trunk! 
— This  sturdy  truant  girl  Sophie,  reaching  the  throne  of 
Russia  by  a  romantic  intrigue  as  fanciful  as  Peter's  own 
Martha  Rabe,  found  time  to  plant  the  great  Catherine  Insti 
tute,  which  lives  and  flourishes! — 

Its  tolerance,  broad  mental  platform  and  singular  influ 
ence  results  to-day  in  a  magnificent,  elegant  social  pagan 
ism  which  marks  the  three  hundred  annual  eleves  as  a  class 
apart  from  all  other  Russian  women! 

The  dash,  keenness,  vivid  passion,  superb  culture  and 
mental  fearlessness  of  the  Russian  woman  of  rank  is  traced 
to  the  firm  hand  of  the  dauntless  "  ffigchen" —  ever  impe 
rious,  and  ever  successful  ! — 

Arthur  Randolph,  amazed  at  Vera  Orlof's  easy  conquest 
of  the  family  circle,  saw  only  the  effect  of  a  regime  which 
heightens  personal  pride,  family  tradition,  imbues  all 
womanly  seductions,  and  makes  the  girl  graduates  of  the 
Golden  Mark,  most  valuable  to  the  Czar's  family  policy. 
The  selected  successful  maidens,  after  a  service  as  Maids  of 
Honor,  which  gives  a  personal  attachment  to  the  reigning 
family,  become  the  wives  of  Generals,  Governors,  Minis 
ters,  Ambassadors  and  all  the  other  great  servants  of  state! 
— Then,  the  code  of  the  Catherine  Institute,  expanded  by 
the  vivid  lessons  of  court  life,  has  full  sweep  when  the 
Madame  La  Ge'ne'rale,  or  the  Russian  Ambassadress,  often 


248  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

becomes  the  very  cleverest  of  Russia's  foreign  agents. — A 
deep  insidious  policy!— 

The  second  of  the  two  great  Catherines  realized  that  the 
greatest  power  on  earth,  unreachable  by  law,  uncontrol 
lable  by  haughty  man,  is  the  influence  of  women,  whether 
good  or  bad! — For  these  daughters  of  Eve  rule  the  rulers  of 
the  earth,  and  there  is  no  plan  so  secret,  no  scheme  so  vast, 
no  great  interest  imperilled,  no  forward  or  retrogressive 
movement  of  the  refluent  wave  of  humanity,  in  which 
woman's  matchless  arts  have  not  turned  the  tide! 

The  blind  historian  gropes  to  find  some  graver  reason 
than  a  woman's  melting  smile,  some  more  powerful  agent 
than  a  woman's  hate!  The  man  of  the  study  might  measure 
the  effect  of  these  causes  in  any  circle!  For  the  answer  to 
the  riddle  of  woman's  hidden  sway  is — Circumspice! — It 
flows  through  the  home,  the  salon,  the  courts,  the  palace, 
the  camp,  and  sweeps  around  the  world,  this  woman  influ 
ence,  rising  and  falling,  as  truly  as  the  heaving  seas  swing 
under  the  dominion  of  the  changing  moon!  Unconquer 
able! 

Man  (haughty  and  insolent),  has  ever  underestimated 
woman! — His  day  of  binding  her  with  the  chains  of  legal 
inequality,  or  a  grudged  half  education,  are  done ! — The  sex  is 
quietly  omnipotent!  For  even  godlike  Napoleon,  grumbling 
over  tough  mutton  on  his  rock  at  St.  Helena  might  recall 
his  constant  slurs  upon  womanhood,  and  realize  that  Jose 
phine's  arts  made  him,  and  Marie  Louisa's  callous  inertia 
and  lack  of  womanly  faith  unmade  him! — Had  the  man  of 
Austerlitz  taken  a  lion  heart  like  Catherine  I,  of  Russia,  to 
share  the  glittering  unreality  of  the  stolen  crown  of  the 
Empire, — Waterloo  would  have  been  another  Wagram! 
The  greatest  modern  Caesar  might  have  held  his  sway  to 
his  dying  day! 

And,  together,  the  imperial  adventurers  would  have  de 
fied  the  whole  world  in  arms,  even  as  Peter  and  Catherine 


THE   PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  24Q 

curbed  and  checked  the  turbulent,  unamalga.mated  Rus 
sians!  It  is  singular  that  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  the 
immortal  parvenu  of  the  world,  never  realized  the  obstinate 
power  of  womanhood!  His  continued  roughness'and  coarse 
ness  alienated  a  sex  which  he  undervalued,  and  which 
thorougJiJy  despised  him! 

Long  after  Arthur  Randolph  wended  his  way  home  to  his 
artist  nest  under  the  silver  star  beams,  beautiful  Vera  Orlof 
sat  by  the  feet  of  Olga  in  her  apartment.  The  house  was 
stilled. — Laughing  Irma  had  taken  her  nightly  leave  of  the 
infant  Stephan,  who  for  the  first  time  in  his  long  existence, 
had  been  gravely  addressed  as  "  Count  Orlof!  " — The  dig 
nity  provoked  no  recognition  beyond  the  attempt  of  two 
chubby  fists  to  capture  Vera's  glittering  necklace,  an 
Empress'  gift. 

And  so,  to  the  cradle  of  a  convict's  child  came  the  honors 
which  the  unhappy  father  lost  forever,  when  he  struck  the 
mad  blow  in  his  midnight  passion  on  the  Neva!  It  was 
with  sudden  gravity  that  Countess  Vera  answered  Beatrice 
Maxutoff 's  last  earnest  half-despairing  query  for  the  news 
of  the  traveler  over  the  frozen  Steppes. 

"  You  will  hear  first  from  Nijni  Novgorod,  dear  friend!  " 
answered  Vera,  with  a  meaning  glance  at  Olga.  It  was.  a 
timely  warning! 

"You  know  the  military  telegraph  only  reaches  to  there. 
— Baron  Butzow  told  me  tonight,  to  tell  you  that  he  has 
carefully  followed  the  maps,  the  imperial  courier's  trip 
records,  and  looked  the  whole  matter  over. — He  decides 
that  you  cannot  hope  to  hear  for  a  fortnight  yet!  And 
you  know  the  delays  incident  to  such  a  long  sleigh  voyage! 
All  will  be  well!  You  know  our  Russia  is  the  very  land  of 
<•  Tomorrow!'  ' Tomorrow!'  It  is  worse  than  Turkey  for 
sluggishness! " 

When  she  had  kissed  wistful  Beatrice's  trembling  lips, 
and  realized  that  they  were  alone,  Vera  quickly  said  to 


J50  1HK     I'l  •>!•     ALASKA. 

Olga:  "I  will  conic  to  you! — In  your  room!  Alone!  1 
have  something  to  tell  you:  Poor  Beatrice:  She  must  not 
hear!  " 

"That  is  why  I  sent  the  carriage  home,  for  Baron 
Butzow  knows  that  I  will  stay  with  you! — /  was  timid, 
Olga!"  said  the  beauty,  as  she  spread  lovely  Olga's  hair 
in  a  golden  shower.  In  her  loose  gown,  caught  up  from 
her  new-found  cousin's  store,  impulsive  Vera  was  verifying 
the  beauty  which  had  once  made  the  heart  of  a  Czar's 
heir  burn  with  an  unholy  ardor. — 

"But, — you  an"  so  kind  to  me, — to  receive  me  so 
frankly,'"  said  the  lovely  and  loving  girl! 

"And  we  can  do  so  much  together  for  little  Stephan!  " 

She  paused  perforce,  for  she  was  clasped  in  an  eager 
embrace  by  the  tender  mother,  who  knew  at  last  the  deli 
cacy  and  gently-forgiving  love  of  the  woman  whose  father's 
blood  was  avenged  on  the  "lonely  green  island"  of  the 
Tako.— 

"  Let  me  lock  the  door!"  whispered  Vera!  "I  have  a 
true  Russian's  fear  of  the  servants!  They  are  the  deadly 
spies  of  Russia!  Even  in  the  Winter  Palace,  though  we 
are  in  the  '  golden  circle,'  our  coterie  of  '  Dames  d'honneur  ' 
only  whisper  in  the  dark,  when  we  steal  to  each  other's 
beds!  It  is  one  continued  repression, — our  smooth,  easy 
life!  I  have  not  dared  to  keep  even  a  letter,  a  single  scrap 
of  paper!  And  fire  is  my  trusty  friend!  I  burn  even  my 
private  letters!  You  can  not  know  how  deeply  the  toils 
are  laid  in  Russia!  You  are  not  Russian  born,  my  beauti 
ful  cousin!'' 

As  she  caressed  the  agitated  listener,  Vera  said  softly: 

"  I  see.  and  hear  all  at  the  Court!  I  trust  no  one  but  the 
Empress,  and  confide  only  in  dear  old  Baron  Butzow,  who 
lets  me  call  him  '  Uncle  '  in  return  for  my  teasing.  Now, 
I  have  grave  fears  for  Prince  Maxutoff!  He  has  powerful 
enemies! — Yes; — bitter  enemies!"  sadly  repeated  Vera. 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  251 

"Butzow  did  not  wish  me  to  tell  you,  for  fear  you  would 
betray  it  to  Beatrice  Maxutoff !  But  I  can  trust  you!  We 
are  to  be  friends  for  life,  Olga!  I  am  all  alone  in  the 
world!  I  have  only  you!  And,  even  in  your  sadness,  you 
have  little  Stephan!  " — 

Olga  Orlof  raised  the  glowing  girl's  head  from  her 
bosom,  where  the  brown-eyed  one  was  nestling. 

"  And  is  there  no  l  Prince  Charming '  yet?  " 

Rosy  blushes  mantled  Vera's  face,  as  she  said,  slowly,  in 
affected  seriousness: 

"  There  is  no  <  Prince  Charming  '—yet,  for  he  has  four 
years*  service  with  his  regiment  in  the  Caucasus!  I  have 
forgotten  even  his  name,  until  he  finishes  that  desperate 
service!  Then,  if  he  is  sent  out  in  the  foreign  diplomatic 
service,  I  may  remember  my  promise, — if  I  can  be  an 
Ambassadress! — But,  listen,  my  dear  one,  the  circle  is 
headed  by  Count  Fersen  and  by  Serge  Zubow,  that  fero 
cious-looking  Tartar  Prince!  Ah!  You  know  him!"  hastily 
said  Vera. 

"He  was  at  Sitka!  "  replied  Olga.  "  Do  not  even  men 
tion  his  name  to  Beatrice!  She  abhors  him! " 

The  quick-witted  girl  resumed,  with  a  searching  glance 
at  Olga,  who  had  become  suddenly  pale: 

"There  is  a  circle  of  schemers  who  seek  to  control  all 
the  rich  trade  of  the  North  Pacific,  now  that  Siberia  will  be 
developed.  I  am  only  a  girl.  But  I  can  hear  and  see! 
The  poor  Czar!  He  is  a  stranger  in  his  own  land!  He 
hears  not  the  voice  of  his  people!  It  filters  through 
schemers,  lick-spittles  and  lackey  servants. — This  Fersen 
and  Zubow  are  allied  with  one  Phillippi  — a  low  mer 
chant!  " 

Vera  spoke  with  all  a  patrician's  disdain. 

"I  have  seen  this  crafty  Phillippi  hovering  around.  He 
bribes  and  cajoles  the  half-paid  clerks  and  secretaries. 
Now,  Zubow  has  even  dared  to  push  his  coarse  flatteries 


252  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

Vera  started,  for  Olga  Orlof  strode  up  and  down  in 
excitement. 

"  I  dislike  the  man,  and  as  he  tried  to  force  his  presence 
on  me,  I  also  avoid  Count  Per  sen!  He  has  a  hold  on  the 
Emperor!  They  were  at  the  Cadet  School  together!  Now, 
Fersen's  sister  was  also  a  Maid  of  Honor!  She  gives  din 
ners  and  receptions  at  which  this  Phillippi  and  Zubow  try 
to  push  on  in  society!  Of  course,  as  a  merchant,  Phillippi 
could  never  succeed, — but  he  has  the  Rothschild's  money 
behind  him!  Serge  Zubow  is  a  reckless  spendthrift  at  the 
Yacht  Club.  Helene  Milutin's  brother  told  her  (she  is  my 
schoolmate  in  waiting  on  the  Empress), — that  he  vowed 
one  night  at  the  Club  that  he  and  Phillippi  would  ruin 
Gregory  Maxutoff!  '  He  is  only  a  tool  of  his  smart  wife! 
Wait  till  he  makes  his  reckoning! '  So  they  boasted." 

"I  watched  this  eagerly,  for  my  heart  was  already 
attached  to  you, — to  Baby  Stephan!" 

Now,  Milutin,  who  is  in  the  *  White  Guards,' — '  the 
Empress'  own,' — told  his  sister  to  tell  me  that  some  great 
disaster  has  happened  to  Maxutoff  out  in  Alaska!  He 
heard  these  men  laughing  over  it  at  the  Three  Bears  res 
taurant,  where  all  these  rich  schemers  spend  their  ill- 
gotten  money. — I  am  sure  that  Uncle  Butzow  knows  some 
thing  too!  For  when  I  told  him,  he  only  shook  his  head, 
and  said:  '  Poor  Gregory!  Poor  fellow!  Poor  little 
Princess  of  Alaska, —  her  future  is  dark  enough!  It  is  a 
terrible  situation!  '  Everything  is  soon  known  at  Peters 
burg.  The  whole  city  tattles!  The  Ministers,  the  Clubs, 
the  salons,  the  banks,  the  Palace, — all  is  one  mass  of  art 
ful  gossips,  whispering  viciously  under  their  breath!  " — 

"Whether  they  have  only  trumped  up  some  trouble,  or 
there  have  been  grave  complaints,  I  can  not  tell,  but  Milu 
tin  says  that  Count  Fersen  is  an  open  enemy  of  Prince  Max 
utoff  and  does  not  hesitate  to  proclaim  his  future  dis 
grace!" 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

The  earnest  girl  paused,  and,  caressing  Olga's  hand, 
whereon  the  turquoise  ring  still  gleamed,  said  : 

"  Now,  dear  cousin,  Uncle  Butzow  is  old  and  tender 
hearted, — he  wishes  you  to  watch  over  Beatrice!  Be  with 
her — near  her!  For,  if  trouble  should  come,  they  are  not 
rich!  There  is — Irma,  this  pretty  darling,  to  educate,  to 
launch  in  that  wild  world  of  Court  Life!  If  anything 
should  happen  to  her  husband,  it  would  break  Beatrice's 
heart!" 

The  sweet  girl  ceased,  and  said  solemnly: 

"It  is  terrible,  the  way  they  treat  them!  No  one  ever 
knows!  No  one  has  a  chance  to  explain!  I  have  seen  an 
aide-de-camp  dancing  with  a  Grand  Duchess  in  the  white 
ball-room!  Three  weeks  later,  I  saw  him,  his  pale  face 
haggard  in  anguish,  in  a  line  of  men  chained  at  the  Mos 
cow  Station!  I  will  never  forget  his  eyes!  They  haunt 
me!  ,  Oh!  Russia!  Riissia!" — 

The  girl  buried  her  face  in  her  hands.  Olga  thought  of 
Beatrice  crying  "Happy  Russia!  " 

WhenVera  Orlof  had  finished  her  disclosure,  she  looked 
at  the  dying  fire  and  Olga's  pale  face!  "/  have  startled 
you!  I  have  brought  back  your  own  sad  days!  Now,  it  is 
only  for  Beatrice  Maxutoff,  that  I  have  warned  you  so 
quickly!  Butzow  bade  me  do  so!  You  must  not  grieve,  my 
darling,  for  you  are  safe, — as  long  as  you  keep  away  from 
the  Russian  frontier!  Your  rosy  Stephan .too  is  safe, — for 
even  the  Russian  laws  give  him  the  family  dignity,  and  on 
his  majority,  his  father's  lands! — They  are  all  held  in  the 
Orphans'  Court  for  him!  For  you,  beloved,  I  have  directed 
the  Orlof  steward  to  acknowledge  your  drafts  and  orders 
as  my  own  to  the  extent  of  one-half  my  income!" — 

"  I  have  the  Empress'  private  promise  that  Stephan  shall 
be  named  for  the  Page  Corps  and  the  Cadet  School  as  soon 
as  he  reaches  eight.  I  have  seen  his  name  entered  on  the 
list  already!  That  alone  is  a  full  recognition  of  his  rank! 


$54  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

— Butzow  fears  there  may  be  some  secret  plot  or  dastardly 
attempt  on  Prince  Maxutoff's  life  while  traversing  the  Ural 
district!  On  these  wild  roads,  Zubow  and  the  savage  nobles 
(his  associates)  are  all  powerful! — They  rule  all! — 

"Milutin  told  me  that  bets  had  been  made  at  the  Club 
that  Maxutoff  would  never  reach  Petersburg!  I  thought  it 
only  was  the  mad  resentment  of  the 'old  Russians' — for 
the  sale  of  Alaska  is  thought  by  them  to  be  the  seal  of  a 
national  dishonor!  I  see  now  that  dear  old  Butzow  fears 
some  dastardly  crime!  But  I  will  watch  like  a  lynx  at  the 
Court, — I  can  warn  the  Baron, — he  will  send  for  you  and 
tell  you  alone,  any  news  of  importance!  " — 

"  If  Maxutoff  suffers  from  the  resentment  of  Zubow,  on 
your  account,  on  account  of  my  dear  dead  Uncle  Fedor, 
whom  I  loved  so  dearly  f — the  sympathetic  girl  was  sobbing, 
— "I  will  gage  the  honor  of  the  Orlofs,  that  Irma  Maxutoff 
shall  never  want  a  friend!  I  would  sell  my  last  jewel  to 
give  Jier  a  dowry!  " 

The  lovely  Russian  maiden's  brown  eyes  flashed  with  an 
undying  spirit. 

"Vera!  you  are  a  soul  of  fire  and  flame, —  an  angel!" 
faltered  Olga,  who  felt  for  the  first  time  in  her  life,  a  warm 
kindred  woman  love  lighting  up  her  lonely  heart. 

"  I  am  so  happy  that  we  are  one  in  feeling!  "  cried  Vera, 
as  she  bade  her  kinswoman  a  tender  "  Good  night!  "  And 
the  two  women,  now  one  in  interest  and  love,  slept  while 
wifely  Beatrice  dreamed  near  them  of  the  beloved  traveler 
on  the  lonely  Siberian  wastes!— 

One  week  after  Vera  Orlof's  arrival  at  Dresden,  her  social 
conquest  was  complete!  With  rare  tact,  she  remained 
domiciled  at  the  Butzows,  and  her  long  rides  with  the 
sturdy  nursling  of  the  house  enabled  her  to  easily  confer 
with  Oiga. — 

Their  carriage  was  followed  by  the  admiring  glances  of 
the  preux  chevaliers  of  the  city,  as  the  halo  of  Vera's  court 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  255 

distinction,  and  the  fabulous  reports  of  her  wealth  and 
rank,  pointed  with  deeper  admiration  the  glances  of  the 
languishing  swains!  They  pursued  her  in  these  social  cam 
paigns  even  to  the  easy  retirement  of  Butzow's  home, — 
and  the  artful  social  leaders  thronged  ever  Arthur  Ran 
dolph's  studio,  where  Vera's  face  flashed  its  provoking 
beauty  from  the  gray  cloud  wreath  of  a  sketch  portrait!— 
"  I  can  even  not  do  you  justice"  mourned  Randolph, — you 
are  holding  a  reception  always, --even  here!  " — 

The  lines  of  haunting  care  were  marked  daily  deeper  on 
Beatrice  Maxutoff's  brow,  and  the  longing  in  her  eyes 
touched  all  hearts! — 

"  He  must  soon  be  here!  He  must  come  every  day!  A 
longing,  a  fear,  a  strange  terror  seizes  me!  ''  cried  Beatrice, 
when  she  made  Olga  her  full  confidant.  "See!  The  buds 
are  beginning  to  break  upon  the  lime  trees  now!  Ah!  my 
heart, — my  waiting  heart!  " — 

And  gazing  at  her  child,  the  fondly  cherished  little 
Princess  of  Alaska,  crowned  so  in  a  mother's  happy  dreams, 
her  heart  sank  within  her! — 

But  four  days  remained  of  vivacious  Vera's  stay,  for  the 
Imperial  mistress  must  meet  her  bright  protegees  smile  on 
the  appointed  day,  when  Olga  Orlof  brought  her  thrilling 
music  to  a  sudden  silence  with  a  crash  of  keys!  The 
sound  of  her  glorious  voice  was  heard  again  in  the  happy 
home  where  Stephan  now  began  to  essay  his  first  walking  tours 
and  the  roses' of  the  Spring  were  glowing  on  the  beautiful 
widow's  cheeks!  There  was  music  in  her  inmost  heart!  For 
every  detail  of  the  fatherless  toddler's  future  career  was 
settled  by  a  loving  kindness,  the  blessing  and  the  property 
of  two  tender  womanly  hearts. — 

Vera  Orlof,  a  swift  Camilla,  her  eyes  eager  with  a  new 
interest,  brought  hope  and  light  into  the  room  with  her! 

"  Where  is  Beatrice  ?  "  the  light-footed  beauty  cried,  as 
she  glanced  around, 


256  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

"  She  will  return  in  a  half  hour!''  answered  Olga,  delib 
erately  imprisoning  the  glowing  girl  in  her  firm  white  arms. 
"You  have  good news,— 7011  pretty  witch!  " 

"Yes!  Uncle  Butzowhas  received  a  private  cipher  tele 
gram  from  Kazan!  Prince  Gregory  passed  Kazan  yester 
day  alone  and  well! — He  will  then  take  the  steamer  to  Nijni 
Novgorod,  up  the  Volga.  It  is  only  two  hundred  miles! 
Butzow  tells  me  that  he  had  passed  on  before  a  telegram 
he  sent  could  reach  him,  but  he  will  get  it  at  Nijni!  Now,' 
as  Prince  Gregory  will  surely  post  from  Nijni  to  Moscow, 
and  take  the  rail  from  there  to  Petersburg,  1  will  see  him  first! 
It  may  be  from  Moscow  that  you  will  have  his  first  dis 
patch,  or  from  Petersburg!  He  will  travel  by  imperial 
post  faster  than  the  letters,  for  he  has  an  Imperial  double 
speed  Podrovjna  order!  Everything  waits  for  him!  Oh! 
I  am  so  happy!  I  am  sure  that  the  Emperor  will  dignify 
his  return!  Prince  and  Princess  of  Alaska!  Fersen  whis 
pered  that  secret  to  the  ladies  of  the  Court  on  his  first 
return!  Prince  Gregory  has  earned  it!" 

And  the  delighted  young  aristocrat  waltzed  around  the 
parlors  with  sweet  Irma,  whose  bright  face  was  added 
to  the  rejoicing  circle!  It  was  a  delicious  awakening  to 
fair  Beatrice  when  she  returned,  for  even  Stephan  Orlof 
had  recognized  by  undue  blinking  of  his  innocent  blue 
eyes,  that  some  great  happiness  had  come  upon  them!  To 
her  own  room,  the  scene  of  so  many  silent  kneelings  before 
the  jewelled  corner  shrine,  the  devoted  Princess  Maxutoff 
fled  to  offer  up  the  outpouring  of  a  thankful  heart. 

The  gratitude  of  an  Emperor!  The  welcome  of  the 
Czarina!  The  plaudits  of  the  coast!  "Ah!  I  envy  you  your 
happiness! ''  was  Vera's  prophecy  of  the  harvest  of  new 
honors! 

When,  three  days  later,  silver-haired  old  Baron  Butzow 
pledged  "the  Czar}'  at  the  home  feast  given  to  mark  the  flit 
ting  of  merry,  deep-hearted  Vera,  all  the  circle  in  heartfelt 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  257 

joy  gaily  drank  the  wine  which  danced  upon  the  crystal 
goblet's  rim! 

A  vision  of  entrancing  loveliness  in  her  furs,  Stephan's 
fairy  god-mother  clung  to  noble  Olga's  bosom  when  the 
clanging  bells  told  of  a  parting. 

"Butzow  knows  all,  dear!  I  will  send  him  at  once  dis 
patches  by  cipher!  I  shall  instantly  find  Prince  Gregory, 
and  give  your  greetings  to  him!  And,  remember,  Olga,  I 
will  come  to  you! — to  my  little  playmate, — whenever  you 
need  me!  But  you  must  never  cross  the  frontier  until  all  the 
clouds  are  lifted!  " 

With  a  laughing  nod  to  all,  the  bright,  happy  face  of  the 
favorite  maiden  of  the  good  Empress  was  lost  to  sight. 

The  days  seemed  doubly  long  when  Vera's  gay  laugh 
died  upon  their  ears!  The  Maxutoff  house  was  silent,  for 
a  strained  expectancy  confined  Beatrice  within  herself. 
Resolute  and  steadfast,  Olga  Orlof  busied  herself  with  Irma, 
affected  to  spend  much  time  with  the  growing  young  mis 
chief,  Count  Stephan,  and  escaped  to  meet  Baron  Butzow's 
grave  face  and  listen  to  his  anxious  forebodings.  Every 
hour  was  ominous  as  it  was  knelled  from  the  clock. 

The  two  loving  comrades  of  Arctic  exile  said:  "We  will 
hear  tomorrow!  "  as  they  parted  each  night  in  silence. 

And  Prince  Maxutoff's  whereabouts  were  yet  unknown! 
It  was  passing  strange! 

Alas!  The  heart  of  Olga  Orlof  was  soon  burdened  with 
a  double  secret:  "  Why  does  not  Vera  write  us?  "  whispered 
Beatrice,  whose  pale  face  accentuated  her  sunken  eyes! 
In  a  gloomy,  expectant  silence  even  the  servants  moved 
around.  For,  close  on  her  heart,  Olga  had  concealed  an 
anxious  letter  from  Vera,  and  Butzow  vainly  lingered  over 
the  stern  words  of  a  Nijni  Novgorod  cipher  telegram! 

"  I  now  fear  some  hidden  trouble!  Something  dreadful! 
— Prince  Gregory  has  not  yet  reached  St.  Petersburg,  and 
even  Milutin  shakes  his  head  gravely!  I  will  find  out  what 


258  THE    PRINCESS    OF    A I  ASKA. 

/  can,  but  do,  at  once,  telegraph  me!  I  am  so  anxious! 
Surely,  Prince  MaxutofT  must  have  come  to  you  incognito. 
Ah!  Poor  darling  Beatrice!  Be  very  wise!  Any  great 
shock  would  kill  her!  " 

Such  was  pretty  Vera's  Pandora  budget! — And  still  no 
news  of  the  missing  Prince! 

Veteran  Butzow,  a  retired  ambassador,  murmured  with 
trembling  lips,  for  he  knew  his  Russia, — "  My  God!  He  has 
not  passed  through  Nijni!  Then,  where  is  he?  " 

He  dared  not  frame  an  answer,  for  Happy  Russia  had 
eaten  up  his  saddened  life  in  its  desperate  service!  A  thou 
sand  past  sad  happenings  flashed  over  the  old  noble's  mem- 
ory! 

"/  can  not  tell  her!  Olga  must!  For  I  fear  that  the 
little  Princess  of  Alaska  has  lost  her  father!  " 

And  the  phantom  coronet  of  honor  had  in  truth  faded 
from  her  pure  young  brows! 

Three  days  later,  Butzow  and  Olga  stood  by  the  bed  of  a 
suffering  one  who  moaned  unceasing,  "  Gregory!  My  hus 
band!  Come  to  me!  " 

Alas! — The  truth  could  be  concealed  no  longer!  For 
Vera's  cautious  letters,  tinged  with  an  awful  fear,  finally 
sealed  their  hopes  in  a  helpless  sorrow! — 

At  St.  Petersburg,  Prince  Maxutoff  was  now  officially 
acknowledged  to  be  missing!  And  no  one  dared  even  to 
speak  of  him!  The  prayers  of  the  loving  ones  at  Dresden 
could  not  reach  the  gloomy  prison  pens  at  Nijni  Novgorod, 
— and  Baron  Butzow,  with  streaming  eyes,  cried: 

"Olga!  We  must  guard  and  save  her, — and  our  little 
[rma!  As  for  help  to  the  lost  one, — we  must  trust  to  Vera! '' 

Two  months  crawled  away  in  an  agonizing  suspense  un 
broken  by  positive  tidings.  The  happy  nest  at  Dresden 
was  deserted  by  her  'who  ruled  it.  The  breath  of  early 
summer  swept  in  at  the  open  windows  where  Countess 
Olga  Orlof  communed  alone  with  Arthur  Randolph.  The 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  259 

house  was  quiet  with  a  strange  hush  for  the  shadow  fallen 
on  it  was  clearly  betokened  in  little  Irma's  black  robe! 
Fatherless  perchance,  motherless,  for  a  time,  as  in  the  Bern 
ese  Alps,  the  good  Butzow  and  his  noble-hearted  wife 
sought  to  lift  the  settled  melancholy  from  the  invalid's 
brow. — 

"Arthur!  What  can  I  say  to  thank  you  for  your  devo 
tion?  "  murmured  Olga,  now  the  representative  head  of  the 
strangely  scattered  family.  The  burden  of  sorrow  which 
had  been  lifted  from  her  soul,  rested  upon  the  benefactors 
so  dear  to  them  both.  Randolph  had  gone  into  anxious 
manhood  with  a  bound!  The  early  blooming  of  his  talent, 
the  varied  experience  of  a  roving  boyhood,  and  the  counsels 
of  the  wise  old  commander,  raised  him  to  a  wisdom  beyond 
his  years!  Ardent  in  his  affections,  loyally  attached  to 
his  friends,  he  had  gallantly  offered  his  services  for  a 
secret  trip  to  St.  Petersburg! — Walking  in  the  Winter  Palace 
gardens,  where  the  fleeting  Russian  summer  was  already 
presaged  by  the  burgeon  of  the  timid  trees,  he  advised  at 
length  with  Milutin  and  conferred  in  furtive  half  hours 
with  that  most  dainty  Maid  of  Honor,  the  Countess  Vera 
Orlofl— 

"  It  is  an  impenetrable  mystery,  Arthur!  "  sadly  murmured 
Vera,  as  they  walked  where  the  boom  of  the  evening  gun 
smote  on  their  ears,  like  a  funeral  knell,  from  Peters' 
gloomy  fortress!  All  hope  died  out  in  Arthur's  breast 
when  Countess  Vera  said: 

"The  only  whisper  I  have  heard  lately  is  that  Count 
Fersen  has  preferred  the  most  serious  charges  against  Prince 
Maxutoff,  touching  the  affairs  of  the  Russian  Fur  Com 
pany, — the  Emperor's  funds,  and  the  handling  of  the  gov 
ernment  property!  To  make  these  matters  worse,  several 
denizens  of  Sitka,  returned  under  the  Treaty,  now  add  their 
factious  complaints!  I  am  persuaded  that,  alive  or  dead, 
Maxutoffs  reputation  is  to  be  ruined,  for  the  merchant 


260  THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA/ 

Phillippi  is  again  at  his  usual  haunts,  and  loudly  boasting 
that  Prince  Serge  Zubow  will  soon  arrive  as  the  chief  gov 
ernment  witness  against  dear  Beatrice's  husband!" — 

"God  help  him!  He  is  lost  then!"  groaned  Arthur, 
thinking  of  the  coarse  virulence  of  the  Tartar,  at  Sitka,  for 
he  had  there  heard  Zubow  swear  that  Maxutoff's  head 
should  be  dragged  down  in  ruin! 

"I  shudder  to  say  it,  Arthur,"  fearfully  whispered  the 
Czarina's  favorite,  "but  I  fear  that  Prince  Gregory  is 
detained, — until  this  unfair  inquest  is  over, — away  in  the 
wild  Volga  country, — in  the  hands  of  the  secret  police! — If  he 
should  be  finally  disgraced  or  degraded,  he  may  be  sent 
later  to  the  Caucasus,  to  Asia,  or  to  Turkestan's  burning 
sands,  as  a  military  slave!  They  would  not  send  him  back 
to  Siberia,  for  it  would  openly  disgrace  the  Crown's  dignity! 
He  may  be  held  to  ^f^  for  ad  information^ — for  he  knows 
much  of  all  these  Alaskan  secret  transactions,  in  fact,  «//, 
save  the  hidden  cabinet  intrigues  of  Petersburg!" 

There  were  blinding  tears  in  Countess  Vera's  tender 
eyes,  as  she  bade  adieu  to  the  American  artist  knight 
errant! 

"I  do  not  dare  now  to  open  my  family  house, — tenter- 
tain  you!  I  might  be  easily  ruined  by  suspicions!  Then,  I 
could  not  help  in  any  way  our  poor  friends!  Tell  our  Olga 
that  I  dare  not  write!  The  mail  is  all  examined! — I  may 
even  now  be  spied  upon!  I  will,  however,  send  my  Ger 
man  maid  on  to  Dresden,  if  I  have  a  vital  disclosure  to 
communicate!  Uncle  Butzow  will  send  his  old  courier  on 
here  to  me, — he  can  take  back  any  answers!  Ah!  Arthur! 
We  must  be  as  brother  and  sister  now, — for  /  have  little 
Stephan's  future  in  my  hands, — and  jwa,  dear  Arthur,  have 
sworn  to  be  Irma's  champion!  God  be  with  you!  " 

The  American  in  the  gloomy  gardens  of  the  murder- 
haunted  palace,  in  sight  of  the  polygon  fortress  where 
Peter's  unfortunate  son,  Alexei,  was  thrown  a  headless 


THE    PRINCESS    OP   ALASKA.  261 

corpse  into  a  fosse,  swore  to  the  bright-eyed  girl  Princess  his 
loyal  fealty  unto  death!  For  Irrna's  wondering  eyes  had 
asked  of  him:  "  Where  is  my  father?  "  when,  in  mercy,  Olga 
had  bade  the  graceful  child  be  silent!  Her  little  heart 
would  not  be  stilled  in  its  wistful  demand, — the  cravings  of 
innocent  filial  Love! 

"Arthur!"  said  the  singer,  wnose  music  was  now  mute 
again  when  he  was  again  at  her  side. — "  I  have  a  charge  to 
lay  upon  you!  I  am  possessed  with  new  fears.  I  know  not 
whatl  We  are  watched!  I  fear  for  all  of  us! — Even  for 
Irma,  my  poor  little  fatherless  Princess  of  Alaska!  I  have 
written  to  Baron  Butzow  to  send  me  one  of  his  own  brave 
retainers,  bred  in  his  domain,  to  be  a  vigilant  guard  here 
by  night  and  day!  I  shall  askjy0#  to  be  our  guest, — the  sen 
tinel  of  loving  loyalty  until  the  faithful  man  arrives!  " 

Randolph  wondered  at  the  fair  woman's  pale  face  and 
faltering  voice.  He  became,  by  right  of  generous  manhood, 
the  watchful  home  guardian  of  friendless  little  Irma. — 

In  his  own  apartments,  thinking  over  the  continued 
mystery  of  Maxutoff's  vanishing  from  all  human  ken,  he 
became  heavy-hearted  as  the  weeks  passed  by,  and  even 
the  active  Vera  had  no  new  tidings!  A  temporary  studio 
enabled  him  to  use  his  leisure  hours,  for  he  had  given  up 
his  usual  evenings  at  the  wild  artist  club  reunions.  Armed 
watchful,  ready, — he  entered  into  the  home  life,  he  learned 
to  hang  in  rapture  on  Olga  Orlof's  exquisite  voice,  and  the 
shy  passion  flower,  Irma,  daily  unfolded  her  beautiful 
nature  in  silence  at  his  side. — Master  Stephan  Orlof  alone 
rolled  and  gambolled  around  in  unconscious  glee! 

Countess  Olga  dared  not  tell  the  ignominy  of  Zubow's 
past  personal  insults  to  Vera,  even  to  Arthur, — and,  she 
now  shrank  from  giving  the  chivalric  artist  the  real  reason 
of  her  sudden  demand  for  his  protection!  In  the  evening 
twilight,  while  Arthur  was  absent  on  the  Neva,  in  sight  of 
the  dungeon  where  Peter's  son  howled  under  the  lash  of  the 
17 


262  THi  if   .\ 

common  hangman,  the  brutal  face  of  Serge  Zubow,  mock 
ing  in  its  triumph,  was  suddenly  thrust  into  her  presence 
as  she  walked  alone! 

"The  Prince  has  not  \tt  returned, — I  believe!  "  sneered 
the  coward,  lifting  his  hat  in  mock  civility! 

The  terror  of  this  apparition  was  but  increased  when  old 
Baron  Butzow  wrote  from  the  invalid's  place  of  convales 
cence:  "Alas!  my  child!  I  now  abandon  all  hope!  I  have 
met  here  in  Switzerland  a  retired  General,  just  arrived, 
who  saw  poor  Gregory  Maxutoff's  agonized  face,  in  a  draft 
of  common  prisoners  at  Astrakan, — crossing  the  Caspian  Sea! 
— Who  has  sent  him  to  Asia?  Who  judges  him?  He  must 
have  been  deported  secretly  down  the  Volga!  General 
Ostrokoff  dared  not  speak  fully  of  the  affair.  You  will 
soon,  I  fear,  be  forced  to  be  a  second  mother  to  Irma, — 
my  darling  little  favorite, — as  well  as  to  watch  over  your 
son! " 

While  Countess  Olga  waited  to  confer  on  this  momen 
tous  disclosure  with  Vera  Orlof,  watching  at  the  great 
centre  of  intrigue,  she  saw  with  her  quick  woman  wit,  that 
in  some  way,  Zubow  must  have  known  of  the  Prince's  down 
fall, — perchance,  even  jeered  at  him  in  chains! 

"I  see,"  she  cried, — "Fersen,  Phillippi,  Zubovv,  all  these 
three  villains  have  conspired,  but  whyt  What  dark  designs 
have  they  really  to  cover?  " 

And  she  hastened  to  send  Butzow's  old  courier  over  the 
frontier  to  the  Winter  Palace  to  exchange  the  burdens  of 
this  new  certainty  of  sorrow  with  Countess  Vera,  her  one 
remaining  friend! — In  her  gratitude  for  the  old  days  at 
Baranoff,  for  the  years  of  sisterhood  under  the  northern 
lights,  Olga  Orlof  swore  in  her  gentle  heart,  by  the  memory 
of  him  who  lay  by  Indian  River's  dashing  waters,  leaping 
in  freedom  from  the  blue  crags,  to  shield  helpless  Irma 
Maxutofffrom  the  chill  blasts  of  fate, — the  icy  breath  of 
Jlappy  Russia! 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  263 

Far  away  in  the  wild  huddle  of  San  Francisco,  a 
moody,  irritable  man  now  paced  the  city's  irregular 
wharves,  day  by  day,  and  watched  every  incoming  trader 
and  whaler.  Paul  Bradford's  pale  cheeks  were  sunken 
and  haggard  with  the  internal  fires  of  a  gnawing  disap 
pointment!  By  day,  at  the  Merchant's  Exchange,  at 
night,  roughly  clad,  haunting  the  saloons  and  sailor 
boarding  houses  on  the  city  front,  or  feverishly  driving 
to  the  Cliff  House  or  signal  station,  the  journalist  Bohe 
mian  never  relaxed  his  vigilance!  He  had  passed  long 
months  in  a  maze  of  bitter  suspicion. — French  Pete  had 
vanished! — In  his  pocket,  a  letter  from  a  distinguished 
statesman  was  a  continual  reminder  to  Bradford  of  the 
huge  stake  for  which  he  played,  a  share  of  the  Golden 
Island! 

"Bradford!  "wrote  his  secret  master,  "  I  know  that  the 
many  fail, — the  few  succeed!  Your  reward  will  be  a  glo 
rious  one,  a  good  share  of  the  property,  and  a  high 
political  place  in  the  new  territory  of  Alaska, — an  official 
station,  which  will  allow  you  to  watch  over  my  interests 
and  also  guard  your  own  share!  Leave  no  stone  un 
turned!  This  convict  straggler  will  be  found  on  some 
incoming  whaling  vessel.  Use  the  contingent  money 
freely!  My  agent  has  orders  to  supply  you!  The  island 
must  be,  shall  be,  ours!  I  sometimes  think  it  may  only 
be  one  of  the  thousand  fiord  headlands!  It  seems 
strange  we  can  not  find  it  yet!  I  am  holding  back  the 
new  territorial  organization,  until  we  are  safe, — and  until 
some  other  matters,  of  no  moment  to  you,  are  properly 
arranged.  "- 

When  Paul  Bradford  returned,  after  the  "Reindeer" 
had  put  to  sea  on  a  new  annual  cruise,  he  sought  his 
room  to  con  over  his  diary  and  ponder  again  upon  Aleck 
McMann's  last  words! 

"Can    this   sailor   be    hoodwinking    me?"       Bradford 


264  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

watched  the  smoke  wreath  of  his  cigar  gloomily.  "I 
believe  not,"  he  said,  as  lie  laid  away  a  heavy  revolver, 
a  more  constant  companion  than  his  note-book.  "I 
would  have  killed  him  at  the  first  sign  of  flinching!  "  - 

In  all  the  stormy  interviews  of  the  "Reindeer's"  re 
fitting  days,  the  mate  had  sturdily  repeated  his  original 
story,  when,  Bradford  leaping  on  a  tug  when  the  whaler 
was  sighted  on  her  return,  had  reached  the  "Reindeer" 
far  outside  the  Heads! — There  had  been  no  chance  for 
any  previous  communication  with  the  shore,  as  the 
staunch  little  steamer  had  pushed  far  out  over  the  bar, 
and  not  even  a  lateen-sailed  fisher  boat,  with  its  desper 
ate  Italian  crew!  dared  ride  the  swell  outside! 

"That's  the  whole  story!  You  have  it!  I  suppose 
Pete  sneaked  over  to  Japan!  "  bluntly  insisted  the  mate 
when  Paul,  for  once  in  a  risible  excitement,  stoutly  urged 
the  seeming  paradox  of  Chief  Oo-ni-mak's  later  account, 
—The  mariner  never  blenched,  and  Bradford  was  fain 
to  be  contented.  In  the  intervals  of  his  duty  in  bring 
ing  the  ship  in,  McMann  recounted  the  lying  and  dis 
honest  habits  of  the  Karlouk  natives! 

"These  fellows  have  learned  their  tricks  from  the 
Russians!  Thieving  and  lying  is  their  regular  trade  ! 
Jlesidcs,  Bradford,  the  old  chief  himself  is  a  notorious 
scoundrel!  Either  your  missing  man  was  run  off  by 
them  to  some  interior  reindeer  camp,  or  he  may  have 
been  spirited  away  by  the  smart  fellows  he  served  once, 
who  wished  to  close  his  mouth  forever  on  their  nefarious 
secrets!  He  may  be  in  Kamschatka  jail,  he  may  have 
been  tossed  overboard  in  the  Behring  Sea, — or  landed  on 
some  penal  island,  or  have  been  put  ashore  on  one  of 
the  Kuriles!  It  is  my  belief  that  he  may  have  been  run 
off  on  some  other  American  trader  or  whaler! — He  might 
have  taught  the  trading  Indians  some  mean  tricks.  If 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  265 

he  had  any  enemy  he  might  have  been  spirited  away  to 
save  him!  There  is  as  yet,  no  law  but  cunning  or  force 
up  there!  The  fellow  was  a  good  navigator,  I  am  told. — 
It  is  possible  some  one  may  have  wanted  to  make  a 
trading  raid  on  the  unguarded  Russian  coast!  There's 
good  pickings  there,"  cried  McMann  with  a  broad  grin. 
"  Some  flying  skirmisher  of  a  Yankee, '  making  a  run  in,' 
may  have  '  shanghaied  '  him?  " 

The  mate  laughed  loudly,  as  he  cut  out  a  section  of 
tobacco  from  a  huge  plug. 

II  What  is  shanghaingl  "  moodily  demanded  Bradford. 
"  Running  him  off  &CL&  forcing  him  to  serve!"  guffawed 

McMann.  "  I  have  often  filled  out  a  crew  up  there  by 
getting  the  natives  on  board,  and  dosing  them  with  rum! 
I  have  afterwards  turned  them  loose  on  the  first  handy 
island!  Now,  if  your  man's  in  the  Arctic,  I'll  surely  find 
him  on  this  cruise!  I  shall  knock  around  everywhere! 
I  will  watch  for  him!  You  can  trust  me/"  he  boasted. — 
This  was  the  sum  of  Bradford's  wasted  year!  A  va 
ried  experience  of  bitter  disappointment!  When  he 
threw  aside  his  note-book,  he  paced  the  room  like  a 
tiger. 

II 1  believe  I'll  go  on  to  Washington  now,  and  see  tht 
Chief!"  he  growled.      "If  I  could  get  a  roving  commis 
sion  of  some  kind,  and   a  little  revenue  cutter,  I  might 
and  the  gold  region  myself! — But  a  thousand  American 
miners  would  then  swarm  in!     It  must  be  a  still  hunt!" 

The  baffled  schemer  walked  the  lonely  streets  till 
midnight  came  to  clear  his  fevered  brain. — 

As  he  did,  the  staunch  "Reindeer"  was  throwing  the 
spray  of  the  rolling  swell  high  in  air,  as  she  forged  on 
past  the  Farallones,  with  a  nine  knot  breeze!  McMann 
in  sou'wester  and  boots,  binoculars  in  hand,  gazed  upon 
a  high,  gloomy  granite  crag  rising  on  the  starboard  bow! 


266  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

Twenty-four  miles  astern,  the  fog  bell  at  Fort  Point  was 
sadly  booming  out  its  heavy  dull  tones,  but  from  the 
twenty  foot  brick  tower  on  the  crag,  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
distant,  every  ten  seconds,  only  a  revolving  white  light 
flared  out  to  warn  the  wary  steersman! 

"  Send  up  up  two  green  lights  at  the  fore  peak !  "  shouted 
McMann,  as  he  noted  the  crag's  position.  In  ten  min 
utes,  three  answering  red  lights,  twinkled,  side  by" side, 
at  the  base  of  the  lantern  tower! — 

"  Good!"  laughed  the  mate,  draining  his  flask.  "My 
particular  friend,  Mr.  French  Pete,  is  all  right!  That 
brute  Bradford  has  vainly  combed  the  town  to  find  him! 
He  is  safe!  I  will  trust  him  with  Black  Duffy!  He 
will  stay  on  that  rock  till  we  need  him! " — 

Away  into  the  night  the  "Reindeer"  swept  with 
straining  sails  right  into  the  teeth  of  a  storm!  A  man 
grumbling  in  maudlin  quarrel  stood  at  the  light  house 
door  as  the  whaler  scudded  by! — 

"Here's  your  supper  and  some  whiskey!  Now, — get 
to  your  hut! "cried  a  rough  voice,  as  Pierre  Lefranc 
seized  the  viands  and  shambled  away.  For  months,  he 
had  only  seen  the  five  bare,  gray  islets  around  the  rough 
crag  he  trod  on!  A  passing  ship,  a  fleet  of  fisher  boats, 
the  myriad  gulls  covering  the  four  hundred  feet  of  ver 
tical  height  of  the  peak,  with  their  huge  speckled  eggs, 
— this,  beyond  storm  and  sleep,  was  his  bestial  life's 
horizon.  On  this  gloomy,  barren  rock,  visited  but  once  a 
year,  when  supplies  were  left  for  the  light-house  keeper 
and  his  rough  chum,  Lefranc  was  forcibly  herded  like  a 
wild  boar!  He  was  Aleck  McMann's  prisoner  and  the 
useless  secret  of  the  mines  maddened  him! 

"  "Why  are  you  here?  "  laughed  Duffy. 

"You'll  find  out  some  day, — /  can't  tell  you!  }'<>// V 
know  too  much!" 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  267 

At  night,  locked  in  a  rough  hut,  the  semi-deranged 
outcast  dreamed  only  of  his  freedom!  The  lonely  rock 
was  McMann's  favorite  smuggling  depot,  and  while  the 
customs  officers  slept  at  the  city,  the  criminal  sailor  fra 
ternity  of  the  North  Pacific  used  this  shelter  for  their 
dark  frauds! 


268  THE   PRINCESS   OF    ALASKA. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  CONFEDERATES — PAUL  BRADFORD  IN  THE   SENATE  ANTE 
ROOM A    FAT     LEASE MY    PATENT "FIND     THAT 

MAN,   AND  YOU  FIND  YOUR  FORTUNE!" VERA*S 

DISCOVERY THE    WRATH    OF    AN     EM 
PRESS "BREAD     UPON    THE 

WATERS." 

Black  Duffy  and  "Mr.  Haley,"  his  associate  keeper, 
were  snug  enough  in  their  solid  martcllo  light-house 
tower,  as  the  night  fell  on  the  seething  waste  of  waters 
around  the  South  Farallon.  The  flash  of  the  revolving 
light  lit  up  the  boiling  black  waters,  and  far  away,  Bonita 
Light  and  Punta  de  los  Reyes,  Fort  Point  and  Alcatraz 
answered  the  cheering  signals  of  the  South  Farallon! 
The  screaming  sea  birds  had  settled  in  the  clefts  of  the 
rocks,  and  the  great  rock  towering  desolate  in  air  was 
lashed  by  the  wild  breakers!  The  blowing  wrack  hid 
the  five  smaller  islets,  and  through  the  leaded  windows, 
only  the  ghostly  lantern  flash  of  a  belated  coaster,  or  the 
red  and  green  signals  of  a  steamer,  gleamed  as  they 
sought  the  narrow  entrance  of  San  Francisco  Bay.— 

For  there,  on  her  hills,  by  the  superb  land-locked  sea, 
the  restless  panther  of  the  west  crouched  on  her  heights, 
behind  the  grinning  guns  of  Fort  Point!  The  greasy 
cards  and  black  bottle  were  on  the  table,  as  with  due 
solemnity,  Duffy  opened  the  one-thousandth  set  of  euchre 
games! 

"We've  done  enough  to-day  for  Uncle  Sam!  What  a 
night!  I'm  glad  we've  a  solid  rock  a  mile  long,  and  four 
hundred  feet  above  that  foaming  storm  lashed  water! 
This  is  the  devil's  own  place!  Not  ten  days  a  year  when 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  269 

a  green  horn  can  land  here  safely!"  Duffy  winked  as 
he  took  a  three  fingered  dram.  "But  Aleck  Me  Mann  can 
always  make  the  trip!" — 

"Every  time!"  grinned  Haley.  "Mac!  I  wonder  you 
never  are  bothered  here!  With  all  the  silk  and  opium 
smuggling!  With  all  the  cigars  and  smuggling  devil 
ment  goin'  on  here!  " — 

"Nonsense,  ye  fool!"  rejoined  Duffy.  "This  place 
hasn't  a  radish  growing  on  it!  Ifs  only  useful  to  the  gang! 
Why,  in  San  Francisco,  there's  a  nest  of  quiet  robber 
gangs  that  work  neatly  together,  each  on  their  own  baili- 
wick\  There's  yer  politicians,  the  brokers,  the  bankers, 
the  merchants,  the  China  trade,  the  whalers,  the  smug 
glers,  and  now,  there's  a  great  combination  making  up 
lto  scoop  in'  the  whole  Alaska  country!  They  have  the 
Senators  and  Congressmen  with  them,  and  they  all  keep 
off  each  other's  heels!  This  smart,  duck  McMann  has  a 
big  backin'  of  thim  rich  whalers  and  traders! — They'll 
run  rum  enough  up  in  the  Arctic  in  the  next  ten  years, 
to  get  every  bit  of  fur  and  pound  of  bone  on  both  sides 
of  the  Sea!  I've  been  up  there!  It  is  a  wild  region! 

—This  Alaska!" 

"Is  the  place  any  good?"  said  Haley,  mixing  his  stiff 
grog. 

"Ah!  There's  timber  and  fisheries  an',  perhaps,  some 
little  gold!"  slowly  said  Duffy.  "These  big  grabbers 
will  get  the  lot  of  it!  There's  no  law  in  the  Arctic! 
They  can  do  as  they  wish!  " 

"What  are  they  keepin'  the  poor  French  devil  so 
long  here  for?  I  can  almost //Vy  him!"  said  Haley. 

Duffy  laughed  softly  and  dealt  the  cards!" — 

"Oh!  I'm  thinkin'  McMann  is  only  hidin'  him  away 
from  his  rich  backers!  They're  all  watchin'  each  other, 
till  they  get  Governors  and  laws  up  there!  An'  this  fel- 


270  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

low  knows  somethin'  that  Me  wants  to  use,    by  an'  f>y!" — 

"Poor  devil!  "  said  Haley.  "Well,  he's  warm  enough 
after  all  with  the  old  stuff  and  rags, — an'  his  fishin'  an' 
wanderin'  round  here  tfocs  no  harm! — You  must  watch 
him  close  when  the  Inspector  comes! "- 

"Ah!  Bless  yer!  "  Over  he  goes,  on  the  North  Fa- 
rallones  till  they're  away!  An'  I  keep  the  boat  key  tied 
around  my  neck! — McMann  is  always  'sound  on  the 
pay!"  And  the  matter-of-fact  villains  struggled  over 
the  painted  unrealities  of  the  cards,  drinking  and  carous 
ing  at  will,  for  they  were  officers  of  a  great  republic!" 

A  mighty  land  whose  stars  were  neither  thirteen  nor 
forty-four,  when  Cabrillo,  Ferrelo  and  the  freebooters 
first  saw  the  barren  granite  islets  sharp  finger  raising  out 
of  the  wind-lashed  waters,  and  masking  the  Golden  Gate! 
Dashing  swashbuckler  and  wild  rover,  Sir  Francis  Drake, 
in  1579,  was  misled  by  them,  a  hundred  and  fifty  years 
before  Peter  the  Great,  a  dying  man,  gave  Vitus  Beh- 
ring  the  orders,  which  were  confirmed  in  three  days  by  a 
new  ruler! — Good  Queen  Bess  lost  a  princely  stronghold 
for  British  commerce,  when  Drake  in  doubt  bore  north, 
and  thus  missed  peerless  San  Francisco  Bay!  By  a 
strange  fatality,  Russia  and  England  blundered,  and  the 
stones  of  Fort  Ross  and  Drake's  Bay  remain  to-day  as 
monuments  of  the  mistakes  of  great  explorers,  while  San- 
Francisco  Bay  was  finally  discovered  only  by  toilsome 
overland  marches  directed  by  the  Marquis  de  Croix, 
Viceroy  of  Mexico!  Cook,  Bougainville  and  Vancouver 
all  were  baffled  by  the  dense  fog  mantle  of  the  witch  of 
the  Golden  Gate! 

The  stout  "Reindeer"  driving  north,  as  the  good  ship 
settled  down  to  a  steady  course,  beyond  the  foamy  bar, 
now  long  leagues  behind,  and  bore  away  a  happy  and 
triumphant  man  in  the  person  of  Alexander  McMann! 


THt:    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  2J 1 

As  he  plotted  and  smoked  in  his  snug  cabin,  he  mused 
over  Bradford's  utter  helplessness!  "By  Heavens!  I 
am  sure  to  be  able  to  make  my  terms  on  the  mine  yet! 
All  the  Russian  officials  are  gone  far  away  now!  The 
American  army  officers  will  not  rove  around  much!  Mer 
chants  and  traders  will  not  have  a  chance  to  throng  north 
till  the  territory  is  organized.  But  I  must  have  some 
one  at  once  to  help  me  locate  this  land  and  get  a  title! 
Then,  *'/  is  all  right!  Whom  shall  I  work  with?  Zu- 
bow  and  his  Russian  crowd?  No!  They  are  a  cold  lot 
of  thieves!  By  this  time,  they  have  surely  got  the  big 
dismantled  Russian  ship  out  of  Victoria  harbor,  and  all 
their  furs  are  safely  sent  off  to  Europe,  in  innocent 
hands!  What  a  grand  robbery!  A  million  dollars,  a 
good  stout  ship,  and  all  her  property!" 

McMann  heaved  a  sigh!  "I  would  liked  to  have  been 
that  big,  stupid-looking  Finnish  mate  who  ran  away  with 
her!  How  sly  Prince  Zubow  was  to  work  him  secretly 
on  board!  " 

"  Poor  Prince  Maxutoff!  He  was  a  square  man!  And, 
by  jingo,  he  never  will  know  how  they  stole  the  Emper 
or's  stuff  from  him!  Trust  these  devils!  Never!  So 
that  lays  out  Messrs.  Zubow,  Phillippi  &  Co,  /—This  fel 
low,  Eben  Tomlinson, — cold-hearted  Yank  —  is  out 
also  workingy^r  the  dollar!  And  he  is  too  friendly  with 
them.  They  are  all  birds  of  a  feather!  "  — 

"If  I  knew  really  who  is  behind  Paul  Bradford,  I 
might  deal  with  him,  but  his  mean  eye,  his  sneaking  way, 
his  cold,  malignant  gambler  face!  I  would  not  trust 
that  smooth  scoundrel!  It  must  be  some  heavy  political 
influence!  I  suppose  it  is  the  l  bank  gang'  of  ruling  up 
starts! — Can  he  be  off  to  Washington?  " 

"If  I  knew  that  to  be  true,  I  would  go  on  there  myself 
after  this  cruise,  and  make  terms,  but  Paul  Bradford's 


272  TttE    PRINCfeSS   OP   ALASKA. 

watchers  would  surely  hound  me  down."  Drawing  off 
his  sea  boots,  the  wary  sailor  threw  himself  on  his  bunk, 
and  laughed  as  he  closed  his  eyes,  for  he  had  easily  out 
witted  the  lounging  San  Francisco  spies  who  drank  with 
him  at  Bradford's  expense!  Like  many  other  skillful 
weavers  of  toils  Paul,  (his  mind  concentrated  on  his  own 
schemes),  undervalued  always  the  wit  and  resources  of 
his  enemy! — 

As  the  son  of  Neptune  drifted  away  on  the  uneasy  sea 
of  his  dreams,  lulled  by  the  musical  clang  of  four  bells, 
Paul  Bradford,  watchful  and  ever  suave,  was  pacing  the 
library  of  a  cosy  San  Francisco  mansion.  Its  appoint 
ments  bespoke  easy  wealth,  and  its  luxurious  gardens 
were  lifted  far  above  the  haunts  of  trade,  but  the  fabu 
lous  magnificence  of  later  "Nob  Hiir  was  yet  in  the  womb 
of  the  future! — It  was  in  the  ante-Bonanza  days! — 

The  journalist's  grave  manner  mocked  the  studied  ele 
gance  of  his  evening  apparel! —  A  feast,  a  ball,  rather 
than  a  conference,  would  have  been  properly  the  theatre 
for  his  unusual  personal  display. 

"I  see  nothing  to  do  now  but  to  go  on  to  Washington," 
slowly  ejaculated  Bradford.  ' '  You  say  that  the  Senator's 
dispatch  is  absolutely  imperative!"  "Yes,"  answered 
the  agent,  a  gray-haired  man  of  affairs  of  fifty.  "  As  the 
steamer  sails  at  noon  to-morrow,  I  can  safely  telegraph 
your  departure  to-morrow  night. — Thanks  to  our  friends 
next  year  we  will  have  a  railway  from  sea  to  sea!  By  the 
way,  let  me  give  you  a  check, — you  must  have  need  for 
money!  Give  me  a  memorandum  receipt  here  for  what 
you  need.  How  much?" 

William  Herron's  steady  eye  never  quivered,  as  Paul 
handed  him  a  receipt  for  a  considerable  sum.  He  gave 
a  crisp  slip  of  gray  paper  to  Bradford,  who  nursed  his 
cigar  as  they  faced  each  other.  "You  are  sure  that  you 


THE    PRINCESS    OK   ALASKA.  273 

can  not  reach  this  mysterious  French  refugee?'1'1  sharply 
remarked  Herron.  "  It  would  be  awkward  for  you  and  I 
if  the  Senator  should  find  him  rising  up  at  the  wrong 
time! — 

"Lefranc  is  not  in  the  State,  and  I  have  exhausted 
every  open  avenue  of  information!  I  know  these  Russian 
operators  as  well  as  all  their  dupes,  the  officials  are  now 
all  in  the  Czars  domains  at  home! — He  never  reached 
here,  wherever  he  did  sail  to  on  that  unknown  vessel  from 
Kodiak!  In  dining  with  the  French  Consul  to-night,  I 
carefully  covered  the  whole  ground.  I  make  an  excuse 
of  some  Sitka  inquiries  to  bring  the  old  matter  up  again. 
— The  old  functionary  is  on  the  eve  of  his  retirement  on 
a  life  pension,  and  is  closing  all  up  ere  he  finally  returns 
to  France.  I  intimated  that  a  matter  of  some  money  ad 
vantage  awaited  this  Pierre  Lefranc!  The  good  old  man 
informed  me  that  he  had  inserted  his  name  in  the  official 
list  of  Frenchmen  advertised  for  both  at  Victoria  and  here, 
and  with  no  effect!  The  romantic  incident  of  Lefranc's 
disclosure  to  the  gold  beds  and  their  resultant  fortunes, 
has  become  musty  in  the  mind  of  the  easy-going  old 
man. — I  am  more  puzzled  than  ever!  If  violence  or 
revenge  were  the  object,  'French  Pete'  could  have  been 
easily  shot  down  and  left  for  the  overawed  natives  to 
bury!  I  do  not  think  that  the  Russians  intrigued  to  take 
him  away! — He  could  have  been  reached  by  them  at  any 
time  before!  And  as  no  prospecting  party  has  been  fitted 
out  here  yet  to  operate  in  Alaska,  I  am  sure,  if  alive,  he 
is  not  following  the  mining  matter  up  just  yet."- 

"What  shall  you  advise  the  Senator?"  said  Herron, 
his  cold  face  lambent  with  thought.  "  I  see  nothing  but 
for  him  to  allow  the  territorial  organization  to  be  at  once 
perfected,  under  the  usual  Senatorial  dominating  power 
in  regard  to  all  appointments. — The  places  of  Register  of 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA* 

Leinds,  and  Surrcvor  of  the  new  Territory,  can,  by  one 
pretext  and  another,  be  controlled  or  delayed.  Mean 
while,  on  a  revenue  cutter,  if  I  am  made  Special  Agent, 
I  can  examine  the  whole  coast,  with  unlimited  power,  as 
to  my  landing  and  at  Government  expense!  In  finding 
any  location  suiting  the  Frenchman's  map  and  descrip 
tions,  and  the  old  Shaman's  relations  to  the  Senator's 
personal  expert,  as  well  as  Tomlinson's  story,  then  I 
should  direct  a  patent  or  patents  to  be  quietly  issued  to 
our  people  for  all  tJie  land  resembling  the  requirements." 
"  Yon  arc  rig/it!"  simply  said  Herron.  "The  main 
object  of  your  present  order  East,  is  to  prepare  intelligent 
press  matter,  artfully  distributed,  to  back  the  proposed 
fur  transactions  and  exclusive  leases!  As  I  have  told  you, 
already,  that  powerful  circle  will  co-operate  with  us,  and 
keep  stragglers  and  adventurers  from  getting  in  on  the 
coast.  —  One  such  injudicious  admission  might  bring  such 
a  crowd  as  are  rushing  in  to  the  Black  Hills,  now!  So, 
as  the  Senator  sorely  needs  your  aid,  this  properly  done, 
he  can  then  have  you  sent  north  as  Special  Agent,  with 
full  powers  to  divert  the  Revenue  Cutter  at  will. — The 
many  vessels  going  up  will  only  be  allowed  to  touch  at 
Sitka, — the  lazy  army  officers  will  never  enter  the  moss 
covered  land, — and  you  can  artfully  control  the  whole 
Alaskan  coast  until  the  great  monopoly  fur  contracts  go  to 
the  right  people  next  year!  It  is  a  giant  labor  for  our  princi 
pal  to  handle. — Once  the  inquisitive  people  of  the  coast 
are  practically  shut  out  of  Alaska,  the  garrisons  will  give 
up  their  control  and,  then,  turn  all  things  over  to  the 
civil  officials,  all  appointed  in  our  own  interest!  It  is  un 
derstood  that  our  secret  circle  are  to  have  all  the  shore 
privileges,  if  we  let  the  Prybiloffs  alone!  Are  you  all  ready 


to  go?" 


I  am  prepared!       I  wonder  if,   in  following  up  th< 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  275 

departing  Russian  officials  at  home,  I  could  not  close  up 
the  missing  links  of  the  chain  tying  down  this  coveted 
'golden  island'  to  a  fixed  location. — Champagne  and  a 
bit  of  ready  money  always  loosens  the  Russian  heart  /" 
"Quite  the  same  here,  Bradford!"  plainly  said  the  man  of 
business.  "It  is,  however,  a  great  stake  to  play  for,  and 
your  wit  and  nerve  must  make  it  a  success!  You  remem 
ber  what  the  Senator  said  before  he  went  East: — Find  me 
that  man, — and  your  fortune  is  made!" — 

"I  will  find  him,  if  alive!  I  never  failed  yet /"  reso 
lutely  said  the  departing  journalist.  "As  to  the  public, 
— the  simple  sheep  whose  creed  is  found  in  the  oracle 
aping  opinions  of  journalism,  I  shall  be  able  to  lead  // 
where  the  chief  wants  *'/: — into  the  idea  that  Alaska  is 
merely  a  desolate  shore,  a  doubtful  pur  chase. " - 

"Correct!  And,  with  a  little  manipulation  at  the  cus 
tom  house  and  steamship  offices,  we  can  hold  the  terri 
tory,  under  a  snug  'regency,'  as  long  as  we  need  to!  I  feel 
that  we  will  surely  succeed, — that  there  is  a  future  for  us, 
under  the  northern  lights!  Well, — the  Senator's  daily 
cipher  dispatch  from  me  will  advise  you  of  all! — 
Good  night  and  a  safe  voyage! "  The  midnight  found 
William  Herron  at  his  condensed  reports,  for  he  daily 
reported  to  the  great  magnate  who  had  Alaska  tightly 
tied  up  until  the  parcelling  thereof  was  effected! — 

Bradford  journeyed  eastward  to  join  the  horde  of  secret 
schemers  infesting  Washington,  and  often,  on  the  twenty 
days'  voyage,  wondered  if  Princess  Maxutoff  had  carried 
away  any  valuable  secrets  from  Sitka!  "There  seemed 
to  be  more  than  a  mere  avoidance  in  her  behavior  towards 
me!  But  if  the  Prince  knew  of  the  gold  regions  himself 
why  did  he  not  secure  them!  Did  he  wait  to  receive  his 
patent  from  the  Czar  as  Prince  of  Alaska?"  Paul  had  not 
fathomed  the  dark  tragedy  of  the  day  when  Fedor  Orlof's 


276  THE     PRINCESS    <)['    ALASKA. 

blood  stained  the  springy  moss, — and  he  never  fancied 
that  in  far  Asia,  the  mysteriously  concealed  prisoner  of 
an  enraged  Czar,  Gregory  Maxutoff,  was  to-day  lost  to 
the  haunts  of  men, — and  that  gentle  Beatrice,  with  her 
child  growing  up  only  to  a  heritage  of  sorrow,  mutely 
waited  for  some  manifestation  of  the  Czar's  uplifted 

hand! 

Paul  Bradford's  mind  was  bent  on  the  final  conquest 
of  fickle  fortune,  as  he  sauntered  up  through  the  Capitol 
Park  at  Washington  four  weeks  later.  The  great  dome 
surmounted  with  Freedom's  allegorical  figure,  swung  in 
majestic  uplifted  outlines  over  the  huge  marble  pile,  the 
focal  point  of  America's  wavering,  flickering  national 
life  fever  !  It  was  in  the  early  summer,  and  fresh  breezes 
moved  the  fragrant  blossoms  on  the  trees.  — Far  away, 
over  the  noble  Potomac,  the  white  portico  of  Arlington 
shone  out  as  grandly  as  when  the  mighty  Washington 
dreamed  of  his  country's  future  there  in  the  peaceful 
evening  of  his  life!  There  the  patriot  mused,  perchance, 
over  the  golden  words  of  his  Farewell  Address,  his  pro 
phetic  mind  reaching  out  to  the  troubles  of,  perhaps, 
foreign  invasion,  domestic  discord,  and  even  future 
anarchistic  troubles!  The  sage  knew  that  the  sword  of 
State  even,  if  sheathed,  should  be  ever  at  hand!  Before 
he  laid  his  tired  head  to  rest,  lulled  by  the  rippling  river 
he  loved  at  Mount  Vernon,  did  the  First  President  ever 
dream  of  a  victorious  British  foe,  lighting  the  work  of 
gifted  Pierre  1'Enfant  in  war's  conflagrations'} — of  the 
stars  and  stripes  trampled  under  a  foreign  foe's  feet1}  Did 
he  dream  of  the  Nullification  fever? — of  panic  and  bank 
ruptcy? — of  the  slavery  shame's  black  cloud? — of  the 
rebel  flag  flying  in  pride  long  years  after  at  Munson's 
Hall? — Did  he  dream  of  the  corruption  of  our  debauched 
councils? — of  Credit  Mobilier's  blasting  infamy? — of  the 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  277 

impeachment  of  one  President?  of  the  murder  of  the 
national  martyr,  Lincoln? — His  affrighted  eyes  would  have 
shunned  the  sight  of  Garfield,  the  self-made  American, 
assassinated  in  his  hour  of  personal  triumph! — For  the 
recent  laurels  of  the  forum,  the  unfaded  wreaths  of  elec 
toral  victory  decked  the  slaughtered  President's  shroud! 

Did  Washington  see  the  coming  stream  of  impure  alien 
immigration, — the  growing  class  pride,  the  mushroom 
aristocracy  and  super- Roman  luxury  of  the  close  of  the 
first  century  vi  American  Presidents? 

Though  he  knew  of  royalty  laying  its  head  on  the 
block,  of  a  public  French  negation  of  God,  of  the  sweep 
of  war's  baleful  torch  over  all  of  defenseless  Europe,  and 
the  age  of  unreason,  did  he  close  his  eyes,  in  1799,  in  the 
belief  that  republican  simplicity  would  prevent  future 
national  disorders?  Alas!  alas!  The  hero  and  sage  is  no 
more  a  prophet  than  the  court  fool! 

Mr.  Paul  Bradford's  mind  was  not  fixed  on  Washing 
ton's  faith  in  the  dubious  future  of  the  United  States,  as 
he  climbed  the  great  western  marble  stairs!  He  was 
intent  on  effecting  an  arrangement  to  rob  the  Govern 
ment  of  a  considerable  portion  of  its  valuable  mineral 
lands!  He  realized  that  the  master  whose  telegram  had 
called  him  sharply  from  New  York's  pleasures  to  an 
interview  in  the  Senate's  anteroom, — was  one  of  the  power 
ful  uncrowned  Kings  of  America! a  product  of  our 

later  time! 

Bradford  gazed  at  the  crowd  hurrying  into  the  noble 
Palace  of  Liberty!  They  seemed  eagerly  intent  on  their 
particular  patriotic  business!  Like  him,  they  ignored 
the  grand  vista,  the  sweep  of  the  royal  avenue,  the  far 
reaches  of  the  blue  Potomac,  the  great  straggling  city, 
so  lately  a  fortress  capital, — at  once  a  headquarters, — a 
prison,  and  a  vast  hospital,  and  where,  while  battle-fields 

13 


278  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

and  an   army's   graves   lay  within   sight,  the  devotees  of 
wine  and  wassail  joyed   over  easy  gotten  public  plunder ! 

"Are  these  people  all  on  a  stealing  expedition?"  he 
mused!  "I  wonder  if  Uncle  Sam  will  ever  grow  poor! — 
I  sincerely  hope  not —  -  until  I  have  thrust  myself  into 
the  place  of  a  favored  heir!" - 

As  Paul  Bradford  passed  under  the  great  gateway  of 
a  national  palace  costing  forty  millions  of  dollars,  his 
eye  rested  on  the  Long  Bridge,  over  which,  under  Gen 
erals  Mansfield  and  Heintzleman,  dashing  Colonel  Dan 
Butterfield  led  the  advance  of  the  Union  Army,  on  May 
24,  1861. — The  long,  ghastly  columns  of  armed  men 
then  gleamed  spectral  under  that  full  May  moon! — The 
stars,  mirrored  in  the  silent  Potomac,  shone  down  in 
pity  on  the  graves  of  a  half  million  of  warring  American 
soldiers  before  Lee  submitted  four  years  later,  at  Appo- 
mattox,  to  the  invincible  Grant!  Then,  and  not  till  then, 
was  the  stain  of  slavery  washed  out  forever  in  the  blood 
of  brothers  from  a  flag  left  polluted  by  our  temporizing 
forefathers! —  For  the  Revolutionary  heroes  dared  not 
open  that  Pandora's  box! — They  left  it  to  their  innocent 
heirs! 

1 '  Bother  the  soldiers!"  thought  Bradford.  <  <  They  came 
here  to  die  for  their  country!  /came  here,  to  livi  by  it! 

— T\ie pen  is  mighty, mightier  than  the  sword! — The 

voice  of  the  orator,  the  votes  of  the  imperious  Senator, 
the    unscrupulous    Congressman,    the    signature   of   the 

President in  our  days,  deal  out   fortunes  rivaling  the 

gilded  phantasms  evoked  by  Aladdin's  Lamp!— 

Into  the  august  presence  of  the  country's  virtuous  leg 
islators,  Bradford  strolled,  his  approving  eye  idly  rest 
ing,  in  passing,  on  painted  victories,  pictured  face  of 
hero,  and  chiseled  bust  of  sage! — He  was  a  pilgrim  among 
the  busy  throng  who  have  "axes  to  grind!"  The  crowd 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  279 

— of  grasping,  fevered  Americans,  who  covet  acres,  tim 
ber  tracts,  Indian  lands,  fisheries,  mineral  treasures  and 
franchises,  continually  attack  the  guarded  millions  of  the 
National  Treasury,  fitly  builded  open  on  all  sides,  and 
with  many  entrances! — A  truly  republican  strong  box! 

Bradford,  a  typical  lobbyist, — cold,  heartless,  semi- 
educated,  and  conscienceless,  cared  naught  for  the  equal 
rights,  the  evolution  of  American  character,  the  educa 
tional  millennium,  the  lightening  of  the  burdens  of  real 
life,  promised  to  all  in  the  Land  of  the  Free!  He  wanted 
only  plunder! 

He  cared  little  whether  America  became  the  land  of 
the  demagogue,  the  rioter,  the  base-browed  alien  contract 
laborer,  or  of  the  ward  politician  and  armed  'heeler!'  He 
recked  not  whether  strikers,  'walking  delegates,'  ' Molly 
Maguires,'  or  their  ultimate  development,  '  the  dynamiter,1 
terrorized  the  land !  He  was  a  '  business  man'  in  his  own 
peculiar  way! —  A  loyal  citizen!— 

Paul  Bradford  was  in  the  seething  whirlpool  of  the  era 
of  the  "carpetbagger,"  the  "  whiskey  ring, "  the  "  Freed- 
men's  Bureau"  sham,  and  the  days  of  "subsidizing  rail 
roads!"  He  was  fitly  placed! — 

He  well  knew  that  the  acute  and  haughty  Senator  who 
waited  his  call,  buttoned  many  a  desperate  secret  in  his 
breast  under  a  decorous  frock!  Smooth,  daring,  deadly, 
grasping  and  hypocritical,  the  Senator  held  the  Pacific 
coast  'grab  bag,"1  tightly  throttled,  in  his  firm  hand!  As 
pliant  and  unscrupulous  as  a  man  could  be,  Paul  Brad 
ford's  little  star  had  crawled  toward  the  zenith,  lost  in 
the  effulgence  of  this  ' rising  statesman?  s'  dazzling  orb! — 

"Ah!"  sneered  Bradford,  as  he  waited  in  the  Senate 
ante-chamber,  "How  admirably  arranged  for  'rushing 
legislation'  and  'transacting  business  !'-— House,  Senate, 
Supreme  Court,  all  under  one  roof!  Library,  palatial 


28o  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

restaurant,  an  anonymous  cash  office,  ready  with  its  piles 
of  crisp  greenbacks,  meeting  rooms,  pliant  journalists, 
fair  lobbyists,  ready  telegraph,  —  truly,  the  Lords  of 
the  Senate  are  lodged  like  princes! — And,  they  have  the 
dummy  President  of  the  United  States  under  their  royal 
thumbs!" 

A  page,  who  had  borne  in  Bradford's  card,  brought 
him  quickly  a  message: 

"  The  Senator  will  see  you  in  a  few  moments." — 

Gravely  bowing,  Bradford  awaited  the  arrival  of  the 
magnate  whose  whisper  had  called  him  from  far  San 
Francisco, — whose  motioning  index  finger  had  sent  him 
to  the  ice  mountains  of  Kodiak, — and  whose  sly  schemes 
for  the  appropriation  and  monopolization  of  Alaska  should 
enrich  ///;//,  the  wary  journalist,  as  well  as  the  vague 
"  leading  citizens'"  who  lurked  behind  the  toga  of  the  Sen 
ator! — 

The  journalist  dropped  into  one  of  the  people's  easy 
chairs! — 

"I  serve  now,  he  shall — later!"  growled  Bradford, 
growing  impatient  in  his  delay!  But  his  hypocritical 
face  relaxed  in  a  ready  smile  as  the  alert  statesman  en 
tered! — The  great  man  hastily  greeted  his  pliant  spy!— 

"Just  going  into  committee!  Meet  me  at  the  east 
portico  at  five?  We  will  drive  out,  and  dine!  I  wish  to 
have  a  long  talk! — Nothing  new?  I  wish  you  to  stay 
here  with  me  for  a  month  or  two!  Get  a  handy  boarding 
house  near  me!  I  shall  need  you  often  at  night." — 

Paul's  eye  flashed  with  understanding  and  obedience, 
as  he  bowed  and  uttered  a  chance  remark  for  the  benefit 
of  a  group  of  patient,  honest  supplicants,  vainly  gazing 
for  the  "pages"  who  never  come! — "They  also  serve 
who  only  stand  and  wait!"  The  service  of  the  neglected 
suppliant!— 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  2I 

"I  will  at  once  domicile  myself  !"  mused  Bradford, 
with  a  quiet  smile.  "I  have  three  leisure  hours!  "  He 
moved  forth  with  alert  strides,  conscious  of  his  future 
success. — His  eye  rested  on  a  great  canvas  of  the  First 
Congress  of  the  United  States! 

"These  newer  fellows  have  a  better  house  than  the 
dingy  old  hall  where  Jefferson,  Hamilton,  Jay  and  Adams 
prated  of  the  future  blessings  of  the  baby  Republic,— 
and  they  have  legislated  better, — for  themselves, —  and 
for  their  friends!  The  country  can  take  care  of  itself ,  but 
my  Senator  must  take  care  of  himself  first,  and  of  me! 
The  '  public  interest '  demands  the  conservation  of  the 
'good  things'1  of  Alaska!  " 

As  Bradford  gaily  dashed  down  Pennsylvania  Avenue, 
where  the  resounding  tread  of  the  victors  waked  once 
the  echoes  of  the  feet  of  the  myriads  who  marched 
away  to  unknown  graves,  Paul  mused  on  the  great  mad 
life  of  the  war,  as  he  had  recently  seen  it!  Around  the 
White  House,  where  homely  Abraham  Lincoln  bore  up 
his  cares  and  Freedom's  sinking  cause  in  the  gloom  of  four 
horrible  years  of  civil  war,  Bradford  had  seen  thirty- 
three  miles  of  fortifications,  with  sixty-eight  huge  forts 
bristling  with  twelve  hundred  cannon,  and  the  gray  hosts 
of  the  rebel  General  Early, — flushed  with  victory,  — fight 
ing  in  the  limits,  in  the  shady  city  gardens, — by  the  flash  of 
their  murderous  guns,  pouring  lead  into  brothers'  bo 
soms! 

"That  was  a  Babylon  of  war!  Treason,  vice,  cow 
ardice,  and  the  seduction  of  a  Paphian  army,  with  every 
where  dishonesty  and  cupidity!  It  beggared  all  belief! 
Though  tough  old  Uncle  Sam  has  survived  it!  Who  says 
we  are  not  a  strong  country?  " 

He  grinned  with  loyal  pride! 


28-2  THI-:   I'kiMT.ss  or  ALASKA. 

Paul  merrily  laughed  as  he  thought  of  the  new  twink 
ling  stars  silvering  the  blue  field  of  the  sturdy  young 
country's  banner!  There  was  no  thought  in  his  keen 
witted  mind  of  the  gradual  crystallization  of  the  plutoc 
racy,— vi  the  invisible  "death  line"  of  fate,  which 
would  give  to  one  u\>man  a  two  hundred  thousand  dol 
lar  diamond  necklace  and  crown,  and  allot  to  the  serving 
girl  two  dollars  a  week!—  Of  days  when  the  rising  tide  of 
molten  gold  would  silence  all  social  remonstrance, — when 
the  toiler  must  do  reverence  to  the  Gessler  cap  of  his 
master, — and  when  the  greedy  eyes  of  hungry  Americans 
would  glare  wolfishly  through  the  plate  glass  of  million 
aire  clubs! — 

"This  is  a  good  town  to  be  in, —  —if  you  are  on  the 
right  side!'"  jovially  exclaimed  Paul,  as  he  rapidly  sought 
a  well-known  quiet  haven  of  rest, — "  I  propose  to  aid  in 
the  development  of  Alaska, —  —the  furthering  of  the  Sena 
tor's  interests,  and  help  all  the  little  games  now  form 
ing, patriotically,  for  a  valuable  consideration! ' "- 

Bradford's  eye  gleamed  with  pride  as  he  seated  him 
self  later  by  the  Senator's  side  in  the  statesman's  car 
riage.  The  easy  swing  of  its  velvety  springs  suggested 
his  similar  luxury  of  the  happy  future! — His  'distin 
guished  companion'  kept  bolt  upright,  acknowledging 
many  salutes,  until  the  <  thin  fringe  of  magnificence'  gave 
way  to  the  rawness  of  the  outskirts  of  the  capital." — As 
they  rolled  on  and  passed  the  deeply  scarred  breasts  of 
the  hills  where  the  ramparts  were  already  crumbling,  the 
Senator  cautiously  satisfied  himself  that  they  were  alone. 

His  coachman  was  actually, not  conveniently, deaf! 

"All  I  need  is  his  hands  and  eyes!  I  will  manage  him!" 
the  legislator  often  remarked.  His  neatest  touches  of 
private  finesse  were  often  effected  as  he  leaned  back  on 
the  easy  cushions  of  his  splendid  vehicle.  A  sober  ele- 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  283 

gance  marked  his  public  state, just  as  a  judicious  sly 
ness  veiled  the  steel  of  his  unerring  grasp!  He  was  at 
once  a  development  and  legacy  of  the  great  conflict. — The 
Civil  War's  wounds  were  still  deep  scars  in  the  country's 
bosom,  but  the  poisoned  blood  of  its  demoralization  has 
since  sapped  our  national  life  for  thirty  years!  — 

It  was  in  the  "War"  that  our  statesmen  found  the  easy 
way  to  gain  their  individual  desires! — Private  thievery  in 
a  national  Golgotha! 

Sharply  glancing  at  the  now  deserted  driveway,  the 
Senator  fixed  his  eyes  on  Bradford. 

"  So  you  have  not  found  that  man  yet!  What  can  have 
occurred?" 

Paul  briefly  recounted  the  final  efforts  of  his  useless 
search. 

"Ah!  "  mused  the  Senator,  "It  is  very  awkward!  The 
possible  existence  of  that  man  is  a  standing  menace  to  my 
future  plans!  Either  dead  or  alive,  the  certainty  of  his 
fate  would  enable  me  to  know  how  to  act!  I  hold  the 
whole  North  Policy  still  tied  up,  but  I  can  not  delay 
it  beyond  one  session  more!'" 

"Why so?"  guardedly  remarked  Bradford,  anxious  to 
see  the  real  scheme  at  last  unfolded! 

"Our  friends,  in  interest,  dare  not  be  longer  put  off  in 
the  awarding  of  the  contracts  for  the  maritime  sealing  inter 
ests!  This  is  an  almost  international  arrangement,  as 
certain  people  are  interested  on  the  Russian  side,  as  well 
as  here. — And  we  will  later  make  ourselves  the  Princes  of 
Alaska!  I  have  been  urged  by  several  members  of  the 
Russian  Legation,  and  by  a  great  Russian  merchant, 
Phillippi,  who  was  here,  and  by  letters  from  his  partner, 
Prince  Zubow,  to  aid  in  regulating  the  world's  fur  supply, 
by  leasing  our  islands,  so  that  the  general  market  may 
neither  be  overstocked,  nor  left  bare!  There  are  great 


284  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

considerations  of  prudence  involved  in  this!  A  heavy 
pressure  has  been  brought  to  bear  on  me!  " 

The  Senator  jingled  thoughtlessly  the  coins  in  his 
pocket!  Bradford  could  not  repress  a  smile. 

"Now,  the  administration  will  soon  act  for  various 
reasons!  Some  form  of  territorial  government  must  be 
set  up!  It  will  require  a  Land  Office  there,  so  that  pri 
vate  claims  can  be  established  and  property  recorded!— 

"Now,  Bradford,"  said  the  Senator  earnestly,  "I  have 
sent  on  to  Russia,  through  Phillippi  and  this  Zubow,  as 
well  as  Count  Fersen,  the  Imperial  Commissioner,  to 
find  out  if  any  grants  or  tracts  of  land  were  ever  given  to 
pr  irate  parties  under  the  seal  of  the  Czar's  Empire!  I 
will  have  the  full  official  news  soon!  The  archives  and 
papers  have  surely  reached  St.  Petersburg  by  this  time! 
If  there  are  none  such,  and  the  Russian  Legation  here 
knows  of  none  yet,  I  shall  have  you  named  as  the  first 
Deputy  U.  S.  Surveyor  General  for  Alaska!  I  will  keep 
the  rush  of  miners  and  prospectors  out  till  next  fall, 
when  the  session  of  Congress  opens;  and  then  the  Seal 
Island  business  will  be  disposed  of,  as  arranged  in  our 
secret  programme!  You  will  then  have  all  my  journalistic 
direction  and  public  opinion  manufacturing  finished! 
Sent  up  on  a  revenue  cutter  you  will  be  the  first  official 
on  the  ground!  No  man  can  board  her,  unless  by  the 
authority  of  a  high  officer  in  San  Francisco,  who  is  our 
real  mainstay  in  the  Alaska  regency!  You  will  carry  the 
machinery  of  your  office  with  you,  and,  as  the  harbors  do 
not  freeze,  your  surveys,  maps  and  selection  can  be  at 
once  made,  the  plats  finished  and  ready  by  spring!  I 
will  have  the  verified  admission  of  the  Russians  that 
there  are  no  Muscorite  grants  of  record!  The  Russian 
American  Fur  Company  finally  relinquished  to  our  Gov 
ernment  all  their  local  rights!  The  ports  and  forts,  with 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  285 

the  trading  posts,  are  now  national  property^.  I  will 
have  your  surveys  begin  at  a  geographical  point  desig 
nated  in  the  orders  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  and 
quickly  accepted!  The  grants,  patents  and  proper  title 
papers  once  legally  issued  to  me,  for  our  associates,  then 
the  general  office  can  be  publicly  opened!  We  will  cover 
the  whole  location  of  these  gold  depsoits  by  taking 
enough!  You  can  hold  it  safely  for  us,  and  if  it  proves 
what  I  have  reason  to  expect,  we  will  then  send  machin 
ery  and  supplies  there.  After  that,  the  vulgar  herd  can 
stream  in!  They  will  get  nothing!  There  are,  of  course, 
some  few  river  placers  on  the  Stickeen  River,  but  our 
own  valuable  locality  must  be  first  located,  granted  and 

guarded." 

"But  how  can  you,  who  have  never  been  in  Alaska, 
direct  this  great  venture?"  Bradford  asked,  in  amaze- 
ment  at  the  network  of  vast  schemes  centering  in  the 

sly  Senator! 

"This  Serge  Zubow,  a  powerful  Siberian  Prince,  alone 
knows  of  \hzexact  location  of  the  'Golden  Island !'- 
He  learned  it  in  a  secret  expedition  with  the  very  French 
refugee  whom  now  we  vainly  seek! — Now,  we  have  no 
one  to  fear  but  this  'French  Pete,'  and  should  he  ever 
be  found,  he  must  be  cajoled,  carefully  handled  and  led 
up  to  the  north!  In  your  skillful  hands,  he  would  be 
harmless  to  us!  If  he  gets  there,  under  your  guidance, 
you  can  verify  Zubow's  disclosures  and  gain  what 
further  secret  knowledge  he  has!  After  that,''1 — the 
Senator  paused. — He  was  always  a  prudent  man! — 

"What  then?"  anxiously  asked  Bradford,  as  the  car 
riage  drew  up  at  the  Senator's  favorite  dining  resort,— 
a  cosy,  embowered  cottage,  from  whence  modern  Egerias 
often  glanced  anxiously  for  the  familiar  faces  of  the  Con 
gressional  Numas,  who  sought  a  delicious  inspiration  in 
this  secluded  retreat! 


286  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

11  He  must  stay  there.'"  firmly  answered  the  scheming 
statesman, "forever!  You  can  attend  to  his  inter 
ests!"  Paul  Bradford's  heart  and  soul  were  steeped  in 
corruption,  but  he  had  not  yet  reached  the  black  depths 
of  cowardly  assassination  !  His  hand  shook,  as  he  pledged 
the  Senator:  "  To  the  Golden  Island.'" 

"How  did  you  gain  this  key  to  the  situation?" 
demanded  Paul,  now  secure  of  the  confidence  of  his 
master. 

"Why!"  replied  the  Senator,  glancing  around  the 
portico,  where  they  awaited  the  summons  to  dinner. 
"  Prince  Zubow  bribed  an  old  Indian  Chief,  now  dead,  to 
betray  Prince  Maxutoff,  the  Russian  Governor!  This 
old  savage  hated  the  Muscovites,  and  was  held  years 
in  bondage  till  the  Governor  General  forced  the  secret 
from  him  !  Maxutoff  evidently  wished  to  secretly  secure 
the  grants  from  the  Czar!  Zubow,  in  hiding,  followed 
the  expedition  sent  out  by  Maxutoff  under  a  Russian 
(\-noble!  TJiis  man  is  dead!  Now,  the  old  Chief  is  dead 
also!  Maxutoff  was  finally  baffled,  for  the  country  was 
suddenly  turned  over  to  us!  He  never  saw  Hie  island  himself. 
He  dared  not  leave  his  post  at  Sitkaf  His  head  might  have 
answered  for  it!  Possessed  of  this  secreV,  even  Zubow 
could  not  use  it,  for  he  only  learned  it  too  late  for  action! 
The  treaty  was  already  signed!  But,  he  has  a  sketch 
map  and  careful  details  of  his  own,  made  up  from  the 
memory  and  from  the  Chief's  disclosures,  and  'French 
Pete's' discoveries.  The  find  was  valueless  to  ////;/.'"- 

"And  how  does  this  all  come  to  you?"  slowly  said 
Bradford,  after  they  were  seated  in  the  privacy  of  a 
special  room. 

"Because  I  am  to  direct  the  Seal  Island  business  in 
tlR-ir  interest,  as  well  as  ours,  and  effect  the  secret  inter 
national  co-operation, — then,  from  Phillippi,  who  conies 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  287 

here  next  winter,  I  will  receive  the  maps  and  full  sailing 
directions!  I  will  locate  enough  land  to  cover  a  whole 
township!  We  are  guarded  against  all  that  may  happen 
but  the  untoward  re-appearance  of  this  ' 'French  Pete,' 
before  my  title  is  finally  secured!  Have  you  any  idea  of 
this  man's  real  fate?"  the  Senator  concluded,  with  au 
anxious  brow.  "  Millions  may  depend  on  it!" — He  doubt 
ed  Paul  in  his  heart! 

"I  believe,  after  hearing  your  recital,  that  the  man 
whom  we  seek,  feared  your  friend  Zubow,  and  has 
only  eluded  him  because  he  thought  Zubow  would  kill 
him,  so  that  he,  ////// self  might  be  the  sole  depositary  of  the 

key  to  the  enigma  of  the  Golden  Island, lying  to-day 

gleaming  under  the  northern  lights!"  Bradford  was 
carefully  pondering  the  past. 

"But  who  could  have  kidnapped  him?"  said  the  Sen 
ator,  dexterously  finishing  a  chef-d'oeuvre  of  bird  carv 
ing. 

"  McMann,  the  sailor,  may  have  wormed  the  Prince's 
secret  out  of  this  drunken  convict!  He  may  have  hidden 
him  on  some  one  of  the  lonely  Arctic  islands,  and  be 
waiting  till  entries  may  be  safely  made!  The  sly  Ameri 
can  mate  was  often  on  this  Zubow's  ship,  at  Sitka!" 

A  light  was  dawning  on  Bradford! — The  clumsy  mate 
had  outwitted  him! 

"  You  have  solved  the  riddle!  "  the  Senator  cried.  "The 
game  is  a  royal  one!  That  fellow  McMann  is  backed  by 
the  smartest  junta  of  pirate  whalers  who  ever  sent  a  rum 
cargo,  up  to  the  Arctic! — I  must  at  once  perfect  the  title! 
I  am  supremely  anxious  about  this!" 

The  Senator's  face  glowed  with  keen  thought,  "  You 
must  not  leave  me,  until  you  go  west  with  your  full  official 
powers,  meet  the  Reyenue  steamer  and  then  push  up 
north  at  once!  Tne  provisional  government  will  be  loca.- 


288  THK    I'KIM  I  —    OF    ALASKA. 

U  d  at  Sitka!  As  for  the  sailor,  we-  will  head  Jiim  off! 
But,  'French  Pete,'  this  f.c  Franc,  who  is  at  once,  edu 
cated  and  crafty,  he  might  cause  us  grave  trouble." 

« ' Never  forget!  "  cried  the  Senator,  as  he  filled  Brad 
ford's  glass,  "he  is  the  one  dangerous  enemy!  Find  that 

man and  you  find  your  fortune!     The  Pacific  Railroad 

will  be  finished  in  the  early  fall  !  You  shall  go  on,  and, 
the  moment  the  lease  is  signed,  and  I  have  Phillippfs  dis 
closure, — sally  out  to  secure  the  treasure  island!  And 
hold  it  we  will,  against  all  comers!  " 

Mr.  Paul  Bradford's  brain,  excited  with  wine,  contin 
ued,  in  his  dreams,  the  fruitless  search  for  ' French  Pete!' 
Through  uneasy  slumbers,  the  forbidding  face  of  Mate 
McCann  haunted  him,  and  he  heard  him  saying,  "He 
is  mine!  —  —You  shall  never  see  his  face!"  And  under 
the  gray  Alaskan  fog,  the  island  lay  far  away,  unclaimed 
in  its  loneliness! — 

The  summer  roses  were  faded   nowr,   and  their  dying 

breath  made  sweet  the  banks  of  the  Elbe. Still,   no 

news  reached  Countess  Olga  of  her  kind  protector's  fate! 
Before  the  fresh  airs  of  autumn  drew  down  from  the 
southern  mountains,  kindly  old  Butzow  led  Beatrice 
Maxutoff  back  to  her  home,  broken-hearted,  to  rejoin 
the  little  circle  of  tender  hearts  who  loved  her. 

There  was  a  mute  appeal  in  her  lovely  eyes,  as  Beat 
rice  turned  a  pale  face  on  Olga,  and  flashed  one  glance 
of  supplication  on  Arthur  Randolph.  The  sympathetic 
American  was  long  haunted  by  that  look,  and  in  later 
years,  a  little  sketch  which  he  would  never  part  with, 
bore  the  name  of  "Our  Lady  of  Pain!"  It  was  the 
Princess'  inmost  heart  agony  which  shone  there,  trans 
ferred  to  the  canvas, for  Randolph  had  often  watched 

her  fold  her  darling  child,  Irma,  to  her  bosom,  in  an 
abandonment  of  grief  !  The  pretty  little  Princess  of 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  289 

Alaska  clung  even  closer  now,  to  her  mother  in  childish 
affection. — The  mother's  pale,  delicate  lips  were  silent 
save  when  she  whispered  "My  poor,  fatherless  dar 
ling!'" — And  the  Czar  was  ominously  silent! — 

"  I  fear  there  {s  no  future  hope!  "  sighed  stout  old  But- 
zow  to  Countess  Olga,  when  mother  and  child  were  re 
united  in  a  transport  of  despair.  "The  doctor  tells  me 
there  is  nothing  to  expect  as  to  her  final  recovery,  less 
some  facts  may  transpire,  as  to  Prince  Gregory's  dark 
fate.  And  yet,  even  bad  news  travels  fast!  The  black 
horses  of  Destiny  always  rush  on,  trampling  down  human 
hearts,  at  a  mad,  relentless  gallop!  If  I  am  spared," 
cried  the  courtly  diplomatic  veteran,  "you  can  always 
count  on  me! — I  have  even  conferred,  secretly,  with  our 
resident  Minister,  as  to  the  efficacy  of  a  personal  appeal  to 
the  Emperor.  I  was  his  Governor  in  his  younger 
days. — But  a  newer  generation  has  swept  me  from  the 
Czar's  remembrance!  Princes  have  short  memories! 
My  colleague,  (once  my  junior  attache),  caught  me  in 
his  arms  and  begged  me  to  refrain! — l  At  your  peril,  dear 
old  'friend I '  said  he.  It  would  only  ruin  us  all!  "- 
Already  the  'affair  Maxutoff '  is  whispered  of  as  one  of 
the  darkest  official  corruption  and  intrigue! — I  believe 
that  there  is  no  one  bold  enough  to  risk  his  own  standing 

by  asking  awkward  questions: suspicion,  danger,  and 

ruin,  would  follow  any  active  interference!  There  is  but 
one  in  the  world,  who  can  aid  poor  Beatrice  now! 
Bright-eyed  Vera  Orlof  is  the  darling  of  the  Empress! 
Only  the  Czarina's  own  presence  is  to-day  sacred  from 
the  spy  in  our  unhappy  land!  The  Russian  heart  is 
always  right. — The  Czar  is  kindly  and  generous!  It  is  the 
system  alone  which  reeks  with  corruption  at  every  channel 
of  its  successive  communication! — Alas!  The  nearest 
favorite, — the  successful  general, the  dictator  of  the 


2QO  THI      PRINCESS    OF     \IASK\. 

hour, the  financier  of  a  season, all  these  puppets 

are  autocratic!  For  they  mould  and  handle  the  iron  will 
of  the  Czar,  who  is  ignorant  of  the  wail  of  the  oppressed! 
An  avalanche,  a  multitude  of  official  papers  covers  the 
point  at  issue,  in  erery  Russian  pleading'.  " 

"I  must  then,  invoke  J't-ni's  aid!  Will  she  dare  to 
supplicate  the  Empress?  She  alone  can  save  the  future 
of  our  Little  Princess  of  Alaska!  " 

The  Countess  Olga  drew  the  curly-headed  toddler, 
Stephan,  to  her  bosom,  "Will  it  not  break  the  golden 
links  of  Vera's  bond  to  the  gentle  Czarina?"  And  the 
beautiful  mother  thought  of  her  Stephan's  future! 

"Lore  may  dare  all '.  "  gently  said  Butzow.  "  There  is 
the  spirit  of  the  indomitable  Orlofs  in  Vera.  And  the 
Empress  is  a  gentle  soul  I  All  she  daily  hears  is  the  ser 
vile  chorus:  'Happy  Russia'.' — Flattering  sycophants 
mislead  our  sovereigns,  who  are,  /;/  the  main,  royal  and 
warm-hearted,  even  in  their  autocratic  loneliness!  Now, 
let  me  think  over  a  plan!  /  will  see  \ou  to-morrow!  Be 
careful,  vigilant!  You  may  be  watched  yourself,  ercn 
here!" 

As  the  silver-haired  old  Butzow  left  her,  Olga  dared 
not  tell  even  //////  of  Serge  Zubow's  threatening  prox 
imity.— 

"Only  one  care  the  more  to  haunt  me!  He  can  not 
dream  of  seriously  pursuing  me!  " 

Had  the  Countess  Olga  glanced  in  the  cheval  glass,  she 
would  have  seen  the  glowing  loveliness  which  ercn  lion', 
tempted  the  reckless  Tartar's  passions,  his  yet  unslaked 
revenge  and  a  bitter,  burning  desire  going  hand  in 
hand!— 

For,  as  Zubow  paced  the  aisle  of  the  long  car  whirl 
ing  him  past  the  dreary  birch  woods  of  the  Neva,  at 
Count  Fersen's  call,  he  dreamed  still  of  the  wondrous 


THE  PRINCESS  of  ALASKA;  291 

fair  face  which  had  gazed  seaward  from  old  Baranoff 
Castle's  gallery,  to  wait  the  unreturning  husband  of  her 
heart!  The  Tartar  Prince  threw  himself  on  the  cush 
ions  of  his  stateroom. 

''I  will  be  free  after  a  few  weeks!  Fersen's  telegram 
tells  me  the  concession  has  been  already  signed!  We 
are  now  ready  to  close  with  the  crafty  Americans!  Their 
Congress  meets  in  two  months. — And  from  Phillippi's 
letter,  their  great  public  lease  competition  of  the  fur 
islands  is  only  a  dumb  show, — Every  bid,  every  figure, 
is  at  our  secret  service!  And  I  must  keep  my  word with 
the  Senator!  Phillippi  and  myself  can  verify  the  con 
tracts  over  there  I  He  shall  have  the  useless  secrets  of  the 
island!  But  this  woman,  she  seems  to  be  quite  decently 
lodged! — Has  she  any  money? — Or  did  Maxutoff  fill  his 
pockets  with  a  little  Arctic  plunder? — If  poverty  would 
bring  her  my  way, — /  would  make  her  the  Belle  of  Kham- 
schatkal  By  God!  /  would  tame  her  haughty  pride! 
The  public  ruin  of  Maxutoff,  the  confiscation,  will  set 
these  people  finally  adrift!  If  I  could  lure  her  into 
Poland,  I  could  have  her  easily  spirited  away  to  Tomsk! 
Bah!  She's  not  worth  it!" — he  cried,  draining  his  flask. 
'•'•Only  a  revenge!  To  see  her  sue!  To  hear  her  plead! 
We  will  see!  We  will  see!  Countess  Olga!  " 

It  was  with  a  gloomy  foreboding  that  Olga  Orlof 
received,  as  she  sat  alone  pondering  Beatrice's  woes, 
the  butler's  statement:  "A  serving  woman,  Madame,  to 
see  yoM,—~fr0m  St.  Petersburg,"  he  whispered  slyly. 

The  house  was  lonely,  for  Arthur  Randolph  had  led 
his  pretty  friend  Irma  out  to  the  enchanted  land  of  the 
theatre!  It  was  late,  and  Beatrice's  sorrows  were  veiled 
in  slumber's  nepenthe. — 

"Take  her  to  my  room,  and  I  will  join  her  there  at 
once!  It  is  from  Vera — and — the  tidings?" 


2Q2  THE   PRINCESS   OF  ALASKA. 

Five  minutes  later,  Countess  Olga  had  finished  the 
letters  the  faithful  German  maid  had  quilted  in  her 
gown. 

"  Excuse  the  late  hour,  my  lady,  but  Countess  Vera 
bade  me  seek  you  at  once!"-—  The  sturdy  domestic 
heaved  a  happy  sigh,  as  she  realized  that  she  was  once 
more  in  the  Vaterland!— 

"It  is  all  right, — you  have  done  well,  Bertha,"  kindly 
replied  Countess  Olga.  "  You  are  to  wait  here  as  my 
maid,  while  I  may  need  you  at  any  time!  A  fortnight's 
rest  and  a  home  visit  will  do  you  good! — You  must  sim 
ply  be  lmy  new  maid,'  and — silence! — as  to  where  you 
came  from,  and  all  you  know!  " 

"Ah!  Madame!  "  the  maid  joyously  said.  "  We  ser 
vants  are  quick  to  learn,  in  Russia!  I  know  my  lessons 
now!  You  may  trust  me  to  the  last!" 

And  the  Abigail  sought  her  rest,  in  a  happy  pride,  at 
having  borne  her  letters  safely  out  past  the  prying  Rus 
sian  police! 

Beside  her  table,  the  light  shining  on  her  pale  face, 
lit  up  with  the  thrill  of  newer  shadows  over  her  beloved 
Beatrice,  Vera's  letter  was  carefully  studied  by  the  one 
friend  left  to  the  missing  Prince  Maxutoff!— 

"I  can  write  but  little,  yet  it  tells  the  story  of  a  life,— 
the  ;•///;/  of  a  family's  hopes — the  disgrace  of  a  great  name! 
— It  is  public  at  last,  that  the  two  fur  ships  have  utterly 
disappeared! — One  was  wrecked,  and  the  other  has  never 
been  heard  from! — The  Emperor's  archives  and  govern 
mental  papers  are  also  missing! — Milutin  tells  me  that 
Prince  Maxutoff  himself  is  accused  of  a  great  robbery,  of 
secret  plunder  and  even  high  treason!  The  Princess  of 
Alaska  will  ncrer  come  to  her  ill-starred  kingdom! — The 
Privy  Council  has  called  peremptorily  on  Count  Fersen 
and  Prince  Serge  Zubow  for  the  fullest  reports  and  details! 


THE  PRINCESS  op  ALASKA.  293 

And  Prince  Gregory  Maxutoff,  Governor  General  and 
Viceroy,  is  a  disgraced— a  ruined  man! — The  suspicion 
that  he  has  somewhere  concealed  the  funds,  papers  and 
valuables,  is  already  a  general  one.  I  hasten  to  send  my 
good  Bertha  to  you!  Beware  of  spies!  Be  careful  of 
traps  and  snares  to  lure  any  or  all  of  you  over  the  frontier! 
Watch  even  your  own  person, — and  guard  your  home!  I 
have  seen  Count  Fersen  and  Prince  Zubow  busied  at  the 
Winter  Palace  every  day  this  week!  Milutin  tells  me 
that  Fersen  was  closeted  two  hours  alone  with  the  Em 
peror!  An  inquisition  is  to  be  set  on  foot  at  once,  and 
Count  Fersen  will  direct  all!  As  for  poor  Prince  Gregory, 
it  is  clear  that  he  is  held  in  far  Asia  apart  from  all  com 
munication,  until  the  Government  has  exhausted  all 
efforts  in  examinations  of  every  kind! — Last,  and  above 
all,  I  advise  you  to  have  Beatrice  and  Irma  sent,  at  once, 
to  free  Switzerland!  You  must  stay  at  Dresden!  It  might 
bring  ruin  to  me, — to  you, — to  Stepharis  future, — for  the 
beloved  Empress  has  herself  promised  me  to  name  him 
this  year,  on  the  list  for  special  Page  instruction!  Keep 
Bertha,  and  let  her  go  to  Switzerland  for  a  few  months 
with  Princess  Beatrice!  Act  at  once!  A  day  may  lose  all! 
If  Beatrice  is  summoned  to  Russia,  you  must  trust  only 
to  good  Baron  Butzow's  wise  advice!  I  will  get  my  other 
letters  smuggled  out  to  you,  safely,  by  Milutin's  friends 
going  abroad. — They  will  be  all  under  cover  to  dear 
Uncle  Butzow!  Telegraph  me  at  once;  tl  I  am  better  " 
when  Beatrice  is  safe  in  Switzerland.  The  Empress  and 
all  the  Arch-duchesses  are  in  a  general  wrath,  over  the 
loss  of  the  Imperial  Household  Furs  collected,  in  long 
years  for  the  members  of  the  Czar's  family! 

"Alas!  Alas  I  I  must  now  tell  poor  Beatrice  the  whole 
sad  story  of  his  ruin!  The  two  millions  of  furs  were 
stolen  by  those  banded  thieves'. — Fersen  and  Zubow! — / 
know  it  I  Her  own  safety  even  demands  the  disclosure. 

19 


294  11IE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA. 

— Switzerland  is  the  only  haven  in  Europe  where  Russia's 
stern  mandate  can  not  recall  my  poor  darling!  I  can  not 
bear  to  leave  her  in  sorrow!— As  for///)1  return  to  Russia. — 
I  fear  it, — and  Zubow  lurks  there,  like  a  ravening  wolf!  All" 
I  can  do  is  to  pray! — Pray  God  that  I  may  help  to  shield 
my  benefactress  and  guard  her  darling  child! — Forjrma, 
the  little  Princess  of  Sorrow's  dark  heritage — I  would  die 
at  need.  I  must  act  the  very  moment  the  day  dawns! — 
To-morrow  night  Beatrice  and  Irma  must  be  on  Swiss 
territory! — I  must  save  them! — I  must  return  their  'Bread 

cast  upon  tJie  Waters!'  " 

The  fair  Countess'  blinding  tears  moistened  her  pillow, 
before  her  agitated  heart  finally  yielded  to  fatigue!  She 
slept  in  fevered  dreams,  and  when  the  dawn  lit  up  the 
home-like  German  city,  Countess  Olga,  white-faced,  but 
composed,  was  at  her  labors  of  preparation  for  the  day's 
flitting,  long  before  Princess  Beatrice  awoke  to  her  una 
vailing  sorrows.  And  Arthur  Randolph  learned,  with 
blank  amazement,  the  new  troubles  of  his  unprotected 
friends!  "It  is  monstrous, — a  deliberate  plot  to  ruin  the 
innocent  Maxutoffs!  There  has  been  foul  play  I  This 
Fersen  and  Zubow — "  He  was  interrupted  by  the  sudden 
arrival  of  Baron  Butzow,  shaking  with  excitement,  who 
claimed  instant  attention?  "Ah!  my  friends!  M'hat  shall 
be  done?  I  was  early  awakened  by  the  Russian  Minister, 
who  will  be  here  forthwith!  A  telegraphic  order,  (in 
cipher),  directs  him  to  seize  and  seal  every  paper  of  Prince 
Maxutoff's  here,  and  to  hold  Princess  Beatrice,  on  pain 
of  confiscation  of  her  rights  and  her  child's  estates,  ready 
to  obey  a  summons,  with  her  child,  to  appear  at  St. 
Petersburg!  Gregory  Maxutoff  has  been  publicly  legally 
degraded,  and  his  individual  estates  have  been  forfeited, 
to  the  Orphans'  Court,  to  be  administered  to  his  family, — 
unless  they  are  proved  to  be  involved  in  his  crimes! — Ah! 
Here  he  comes!" 


BOOK   III. 

THE  CLAWS  OF  MIDAS. 


CHAPTER  XL 

THE  MINISTER'S  QUEST — ZUBOW'S  TRIUMPH — AN  APPEAL  TO 
THE  CZARINA'S  HEART — THE  LITTLE  PRINCESS'  KNIGHT 
LY   CHAMPION — AT  WASHINGTON A  PACT   CONCLU 
DED "THE  GOLDEN  ISLAND  IS  MINE!" 

BRADFORD'S    NEW  DIGNITY  —  THE  PRIS 
ONER  OF  THE  FARALLONES AT  THE 

ISLAND THE  CLAWS  OF  MIDAS 

TWO    CLAIMANTS    TO  NA 
TURE'S   TREASURY. 

"I  think  that  I  will  retire  to  my  room,  Baron,"  said 
Arthur  Randolph,  whose  heart  could  not  bear  to  witness 
the  helpless  sufferings  of  Princess  Beatrice  Maxutoff  under 
the  crushing  news  of  a  husband's  disgrace.  He  was  at 
the  door  of  the  rear  drawing-room  as  the  Russian  Min 
ister  was  ushered  into  the  salon  Arthur's  hand  was  on 
the  door-knob,  when  Countess  Olga,  her  eyes  aflame 
at  the  indignity  of  an  official  search,  seized  his  wrist.  She 
had  seen  the  Secretary  and  two  bearded  attaches  of  the 
Legation  hesitating  in  the  hallway. 

"Arthur!  Wait  for  me  in  your  own  room!  I  may 
need_y<?«  at  any  moment!" — 

The  American  artist  bowed  and  his  dark  eyes  flashed 
in  silent  sympathy. 

While  the  Legation  underlings  watched  each  other  in 
the  hall,  Randolph,  slowly  mounting  the  stairs,  walked 

295 


296  TIIK    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

with  th«-  pride  of  a  free-born  citizen  into  his  room  and, 
tlK-n.  with  a  sudden  inspiration,  slipped  a  very  effective 
looking  navy  revolver  into  the  breast  of  his  artist  blouse! 
It  was  characteristic  of  a  nation  who  believe  in  the  perpet 
ual  handiness  of  that  'blessed  invention'  of  Colonel  Colt, 
which  has  aided  so  many  human  beings  into  an  'unex 
pected  debut*  in  the  other  world! — The  house  was  perfectly 
still,  save  for  the  ringing  laughter  of  that  youthful  digni 
tary  Count  Stephan  Orlof,  who  was  busily  engaged  in  a 
game  of  early  romps  with  merry  Irma. 

The  Minister  of  His  Imperial  Highness,  the  Czar  of 
all  the  Russias, — coughed  slightly  and  was  visibly  embar 
rassed  as  he  greeted  his  old  colleague.  Baron  Butzow 
sat  bolt  upright,  his  stern  visage  redder  than  the  button 

of  the  Muscovite  order  on  his  coat  lapel. There 

was  an  awkwrard  pause! 

"I  regret  to  be  obliged,  Madame  Orlof,  to  ask  for  an 
immediate  interview  with  Princess  Maxutoff,"  said  the 
Minister. — "But  we  are  all  Russian  subjects  here, — and 
my  esteemed  predecessor,  Baron  Butzow,  is  aware  of 

the  gravity  of  this  occasion. I  have,  in  fact,  asked 

him  here  to  be  a  witness  of  the  entire  propriety  of  my 
official  actions.  I  am  directed  to  make  an  examination 
of  all  the  private  papers  of  Prince  Gregory  Maxutoff, 
and  to  notify  the  Princess  of  an  important  order  of  the 
Minister  of  the  Interior,  gravely  affecting  her  own  inter 
ests,  as  well  as  those  of  her  child! — Will  you  kindly 
request  her  to  favor  me  with  an  immediate  interview?" 

"You  are  aware,  your  Excellency,  that  my  friend  is 
seriously  suffering, — that  she  is  unable  to  sustain  any 
sudden  excitements, — and  that  she  is  burdened  with  a 
heavy  sorrow?"  There  were  tears  in  Olga  Orlof 's  eyes, 
but  her  silvery  voice  thrilled  with  indignant  scorn. 

"Unfortunately,   Countess  Orlof,   /  must  perform  my 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  297 

painful  duty! — It  is  the  will  of  the  Czar!"  The  official 
laid  his  hand  upon  his  heart,  as  he  bowed  low  to  escape 
Madam  Orlof  s  flashing  eyes.  Her  bosom  rose  and  fell, 
and  she  trembled  slightly,  but  she  quietly  moved  to  the 
door. 

"I  will  summon  Madame  Maxutoff !  "  Olga  rejoined,  and 
passed  up  the  stairs.  With  the  quickness  of  woman's 
wit,  she  had  noted  the  stolid-faced  chancellors  waiting 
with  their  portfolios  under  their  arms,  and  now  ready  to 
affix  the  portentous  seals  of  the  Russian  Legation. 

"Ah!  I  must  hasten!"  The  singer  Countess  held  her 
breath,  for  a  sudden  inspiration  had  seized  her.  Pass 
ing  quietly  into  Beatrice  Maxutoffs  room,  she  laid  her 
finger  on  her  lips,  as  Randolph  standing  in  his  door, 
motioned  to  her.  Every  word  could  easily  be  heard 
below  stairs,  if  uttered  in  an  ordinary  tone. — 

Arthur  still  waited,  his  heart  beating  wildly,  for  he 
heard  Olga  say:  "Pray  do  step  down,  at  once,  and  see 
Baron  Butzow,  dear  Beatrice.  It  is  very  important  that 
you  should  go  at  once!  I  will  join  you  in  a  moment!" 

With  timid  wonderment  in  her  sad  eyes,  the  graceful 
Princess  descended  the  stairway.  Her  gentle  voice  in 
its  alarm,  had  reached  Randolph,  who  had  stepped  back. 
' '  What  can  have  happened  ?  "  The  gentle  woman  leaned 
heavily  on  the  oaken  baluster,  as  she  slowly  went  to  her 
fate, — alone! — 

"What  can  Olga  mean  by  this  conduct?"  thought 
Arthur.  "The  shock  of  this  scene  may  kill  her!" 

That  question  was  never  answered,  for  a  woman  as 
beautiful  as  a  springing  tigress  glided  by  the  astonished 

artist,  and  entered  his  room. In  a  whisper  which 

thrilled  his  very  marrow,  Olga  pointed  to  a  heavy  leath 
ern  dispatch  box  she  had  softly  placed  on  the  table. 
Her  eye  rested  on  the  American  camp  color  flag  which, 


298  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

in  a  spirit  of  boyish  fancy,  Arthur  Randolph  had 
wreathed  over  his  bachelor  mantel. — 

"Arthur!  There  is  the  title  of  Inna's  fortune! — and 
of  Mine! — All  our  papers!  Guard  them  with  your  life! 
You  are  a  freeman!"  She  grasped  his  arm  convulsively, 
as  she  pointed  to  the  red,  wliitc  and  blue,  in  its  faded 
silken  splendor!  Your  room  cannot  be  legally  searched! 
Hide  them!*  Quick!  Quick!"  and,  without  another 
word,  she  descended  the  stairway,  as  a  woman's  scream 
was  heard  in  piercing  agony  below,  with  the  following 
sound  of  a  heavy  fall. 

"My  God!  And  I  must  stand  here  helpless!"  Ran 
dolph's  hot  blood,  the  inheritance  of  a  gallant  race,  was 
now  at  fever  heat,  but  he  sprang  to  his  own  wardrobe, 
and  hastily  concealed  the  heavy  case,  behind  his  artistic 
debris.  He  locked  the  closet  door,  and  slipped  the  key 
in  his  pocket. — 

From  the  salon  below,  the  sound  of  entreaty,  of  expos 
tulation,  of  Baron  Butzow's  tremulous  voice,  of  the 
Minister's  grave  accents  in  answer,  floated  up  the  hall. — 
There  was  no  sound  near  him  save  the  movement  of  the 
neat  handed  Bertha,  leading  the  youthful  Stephan 
below. 

Standing  in  his  door,  Arthur,  with  a  quick  motion, 
warned  Princess  Irma,  who,  with  girlish  wonderment, 
was  about  to  obey  a  summons  to  join  her  mother.  The 
little  Princess  of  Alaska  smiled  back  at  her  brave  young 
champion.  The  lovely  woman  blossom  fixed  her  trust 
in  Arthur,  who  was  seated,  calmly  smoking  by  his  open 
door,  when  two  of  the  burly  officials  who  had  briefly 
visited  the  other  chambers,  now  appeared  before  him.— 

"/  beg  \our  pardon!  This  is  ;;/v  room!" — said  the 
artist,  as  he  firmly  planted  his  stalwart  frame  in  the  door 
way.  There  was  a  blank  look  of  astonishment  on  the 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  29§ 

face  of  the  first  comer,  who  roughly  tried  to  enter  the 
room.  Flung  across  the  landing,  he  fell  prone,  while 
the  yell  of  his  fugitive  companion  brought  the  Minister, 
followed  by  Baron  Butzow,  at  once  to  the  upper  landing. 
In  the  doorway  they  saw  a  remarkably  calm  young  man, 
with  a  somewhat  antiquated  American  guidon  in  his  left 
hand,  and  a  very  modern  looking  revolver,  cocked  and 
ready,  in  his  right! — 

''Do  you  pretend  to  interfere  with  my  officers  executing 
their  duty?"  snarled  the  representative  of  the  Czar. 
Arthur  Randolph  thought  of  the  beautiful  child,  whose 
future,  perhaps,  depended  on  his  present  coolness.  He 
answered  politely,  for  he  knew  the  Minister  as  an  accom 
plished  art  patron. — A  dilettante  who,  with  all  the  arts 
of  a  cunning  Slav,  spoke  English  with  the  ease  acquired 
in  his  days  of  attacheship  at  Washington. 

"I  hope  that  they  will  only  execute  their  duty,  Your 
Excellency! — and  not  go  beyond  it!  When  'they  do, — 
remember  that  /  am  an  American  citizen, — native  born! 
I  do  not  choose  to  have  any  one  force  their  way  in 
here!"  He  thought  of  Alaska's  child  Princess, — of  her 
imperilled  inheritance, — and  his  youthful  brow  grew 
grave  and  stern. 

The  calm  face  of  Countess  Orlof  lit  up  with  pride  and 
secret  gratitude,  as  she  flashed  a  glance  of  thankful 
intelligence  at  the  resolute  artist,  who  stood  steadfast 
on  guard  with  his  flag  in  hand.  Olga  turned  to  the 
diplomat:  "Can  not  this  fracas  be  avoided?  Madame 
Maxutoff  may  seriously  suffer  from  these  rough  proceed 
ings!  I  beg  you  to  spare  us  as  far  as  possible!  "• 

"I  insist  upon  satisfying  myself  as  to  the  contents  of 
this  room!"  rejoined  the  excited  Minister.  For  his 
underlings  now  watching  him,  might  be  secret  spies! 


3OO  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

His  own  future  might  be  endangered  by  any  lukewarm- 
ness!    He  pressed  resolutely  forward. 

"Hold!  You  madman!  Cross  but  this  threshold,  and  I 
will  put  a  ball  in  your  heart!"  the  artist  cried,  as  he 
levelled  his  ready  weapon.  There  was  no  uncertain  ring 
in  the  accents,  for  Arthur  thought  of  Olga  Orlof's  last 
whisper:  "For  Irmas  sake!" — "  I  will  send  to  the  Ameri 
can  Minister!  I  will  summon  the  German  police!  I 
seek  the  valuable  hidden  papers  of  the  Russian  Govern 
ment!"  persisted  the  official,  with  a  nervous  glance  at 
Randolph's  right  arm,  for  the  young  man  stood  sternly 
at  bay,  like  a  soldier  holding  his  last  shot! — The  Princess 
of  Alaska's  dowry  was  in  the  very  clutch  of  the  enemy!— 

"It  is  useless  to  bluster!  Useless  to  semi  to  the  Ameri 
can  Minister!  I  am  about  to  do  that  myself!'"  coldly 
answered  Randolph,  as  he  touched  the  hall  bell  for  the 
butler. 

When  the  servant  arrived,  his  eyes,  eager  with  sur 
prise  at  the  disturbing  scene  of  the  early  morning, 
Arthur  Randolph  calmly  said.  "Jules,  if  Madame  Orlof 
can  permit  you  to  leave, — then,  take  the  first  carriage 
and  go  as  quickly  as  you  can  to  the  American  Legation. 
Take  young  Mr.  Peyton  this  card.  You  can  tell  him  it 
is  a  matter  of  life  and  death  to  me!  He  will  under 
stand! — Find  him  at  once,  if  he  is  in  Dresden  !  I  shall 
not  leave  here!" 

Before  the  butler's  foot  reached  the  bottom  stair,  the 
Russian  Minister  cried  "Stay!  I  will  see  the  Minister 
myself  I — Call  your  man  back!  "  Irma's  knight  had  won. 

"  You  can  handle  your  own  mouchards!  Let  my  man 
alone!  I  will  give  you  the  pleasure  of  apologizing  later 
for  this  outrage,"  quietly  remarked  Randolph.  "Mr. 
Peyton  shall  have  the  plain  facts  before  I  leave  this 
house! " 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  30! 

And  the  sound  of  a  key  vigorously  turned  indicated  to 
the  baffled  Russian  official  that  Mr.  Arthur  Randolph 
had  private  matters  to  occupy  his  attention. 

There  was  a  grave  convocation  of  physicians  and 
attendants  in  the  invalid's  home,  as  the  weary  day  wore 
along  to  the  afternoon. — With  judicious  slyness,  Baron 
Butzow  accompanied  the  retiring  Minister,  and  saw  a 
few  important  trifles  of  correspondence  borne  away  by 
his  triumphant  underlings!  The  very  serious  gravity  of 
First  Secretary  Peyton's  formal  bow,  on  leaving  the 
house  impressed  the  Russian  Minister  that  Arthur  Ran 
dolph  had  claimed  the  fullest  protection!  Be  that  as  it 
may,  the  coming  and  going  of  the  American  artist  was 
thereafter  uninterrupted.  His  later  departure  in  a  closed 
carriage,  with  several  paint  boxes  and  artist  cases  sug 
gested  a  sketching  tour!  It  was,  however,  one  of  very 
short  duration,  for  in  the  gloomy  salon,  on  his  return, 
Randolph  found  Irma  clinging  to  her  protectress  Coun 
tess  Olga,  in  an  agony  of  grief.— 

"Have  no  fear,  my  dear  one!"  the  generous  young 
painter  whispered  to  the  sobbing  girl,  "/am  here,  and 
you  can  surely  trust  Countess  Olga,  and  trust  me  too! 
Nothing  shall  harm  you !  "  The  little  Princess  of  Alaska 
was  sobbing  on  her  fond  knight's  bosom. 

"The  papers  are  divided  up  and  packed  in  two  of  my 
color  cases,  and  are  now  secure  in  the  vaults  of  the 
Royal  Bank!"  Arthur  was  triumphant  as  he  made  this 
report  to  the  Countess.  "I  shall  stay  here  continuously, 
and  Peyton  will  kindly  send  me  a  daily  messenger  for  any 
of  my  little  wants.  You  were  simply  wonderful  in 
thoughtfulness!  How  did  you  ever  learn  to  act  with  such 
adroitness?" 

"Ah!  my  friend!  Life  in  Russia  trains  the  mind  to 
meet  every  sudden  juncture,  in  dissimulation!  The  heart 


302  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

may  break,  but  the/are  learns  to  wear  the  mask  of  'Life 
under  the  Czar!'" — There  were  warm  tears  of  gratitude 
in  Olga's  eyes,  as  she  pressed  the  gallant  champion's 
hands:  "How  shall  we  ever  repay  you?"  Randolph 
smiled  curiously,  —  "  I  can  wait  for  my  reward,  Countess! 
Some  day,  I  may  ask  you  and  Princess  Beatrice,  in  hap 
pier  times,"-  — "  You  shall  have  anything  \ou  ask  for!" 
cried  Irma,  her  girlish  voice  eager  in  sympathy.  The 
little  Princess  of  Alaska  was  dainty  and  regal,  even  in 
her  shadowed  fortunes! — 

"We  will  see,  Rosebud!  Wait  till  you  come  into  \our 
own  inheritance!"  said  the  artist,  as  he  raised  Countess 
Olga's  hand  to  his  lips.  Even  in  her  sorrow,  the  fair 
lady  smiled  at  Irma's  rash  promise!  "Leave  us,  Irma!  " 
gently  directed  the  Countess.  "Watch  over  your  mother 
till  I  come!" 

"That  child  will  some  day  be  a  rare  beauty!"  softly 
said  Olga,  as  the  fatherless  one  left  the  room.  Strangely 
enough,  Arthur  Randolph  returned  for  answer  the  direct 
question,  "And  now, — the  results?  Tell  me  the  very 
worst?  We  must  act  at  once,  if  Vera's  influence  can  aid 
to  soften  this  last  blow.  You  dare  not  personally  go  to 
Russia!  I  can  not!  Princess  Beatrice  must  not!  Of 
course,  the  child  is  safe  here, — but,  once  over  the  frontier, 
— who  can  tell  what  awaits  even  her  innocence?  Alas! 
She  is  the  petted  little  Princess  of  Alaska  no  longer!  " — 

"But  the  Minister  evidently  was  dismayed  by  \oitr 
boldness"  rejoined  the  Countess,  worn  out  with  the  day's 
excitements.  "  He  only  requires  Princess  Beatrice  to 
remain  at  home  here,  subject  to  his  future  official 
requests!  For  the  present,  Baron  Butzow  himself  will 
verify,  once  a  week,  her  presence.  Nothing  of  import 
ance  was  taken  away! — The  Prince's  archives  were  all 
lost  on  the  vessels,  or  with  his  baggage,  which  last  has 


THK    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  303 

certainly  been  seized.  Our  original  deeds  and  grants, 
thank  God!  are  secure!  They  can  not  be  recalled!" 

"Beatrice  answered  the  few  formal  questions  of  the 
inquisitor  with  dignified  prudence.  She  really  knows 
nothing,  and  the  Minister,  who  is  a  gentleman  at  heart, 
is  evidently  convinced  of  it!  Her  serious  condition  of 
health  will  prevent  her  removal  for  some  weeks!  But 
one  thing  now  presses  on  my  mind! — What  shall  we  do 
to  help  her?  " 

The  young  American  had  finished  his  careful  study  of 
the  whole  situation. 

"  I  would  send  Bertha  at  once,  this  very  night,  back  to 
St.  Petersburg  with  a  full  letter  to  Vera!  I  will  have  a 
carriage  ready  and — send  her  to  the  station  two  hours 
before  the  train.  She  can  mingle  there  with  the  crowd 
and  pay  her  fare  only  to  the  frontier!  There,  she  can 
buy  a  through  Russian  ticket!  She  tells  me  her  pass 
port  is  all  en  r£gle  for  a  return!  Let  brave  Countess  Vera 
appeal  directly  to  the  Empress  to  spare  this  poor  friend 
less  woman  the  ignominy  of  being  dragged  to  Russia  to 
face  her  absent  husband's  judges.  Her  very  sickness, 
helplessness  and  approaching  poverty  is  an  excuse  in 
itself  for  the  Czarina's  clemency!  "— 

When  Olga  saw  the  reluctant  Bertha  drive  away,  her 
own  sorely  tried  strength  gave  way!  After  standing  by 
the  bedside  of  her  gentle  friend,  to  kiss  her  pale  lips  a 
fond  good  night,  the  Countess  returned  to  Arthur.  He 
pitied  her  fatigue  and  said: 

"Now,  your  letter  is  gone!  You  need  rest!  I  will 
sleep  with  my  doors  open!  The  butler  too  has  a  couch 
in  the  dining  room,  ready  at  call!  The  day  of  your 
worst  ordeal  over!  But,  God.  help  the  poor  Princess! 
The  uncertainty  of  her  husband's  fate,  and  the  certainty 
of  the  family  ruin,  will  break  her  proud  heart! — Some 


364  nn-    PRINCESS    OF  ALASKA. 

monstrous  villainy  has  been  secretly  wrought!  And  if 
these  vessels  are  wrecked,  or  have  been  looted,  the  Prince, 
even  if  alive,  can  never  justify  his  administration.  He 
has  lost  the  Emperor's  favor,  and  so  forfeited  his  well- 
earned  reward!  " 

" //  is  so,  Arthur!  but,"  cried  Olga,  with  kindling 
eye,  "I  will  aid  and  watch  over  Beatrice!  Countess 
Vera  will  help  me,  and  my  little  Stephan,"  the  proud 
mother  added,  "shall  some  day  know  the  debt  which 
hangs  over  his  childhood's  cradle! — The  unselfish  devo 
tion  of  the  Maxutoffs!  It  is  only  poor  Irma  whose 
future  will  be  clouded!  In  Russia,  this  family  downfall 
may  seriously  affect  her, — when  she  should  properly 
enter  society!  Poor  little  dethroned  one!  " — 

"It  is  just  possible  that  she  may  not  marry  a  Russian!  " 
quietly  remarked  the  artist.  "  I  presume,  if  you  continue 
to  reside  here,  she  will  be  educated  in  the  local  German 
schools?" 

"True!  But  my  Stephan  must  be  bred  in  Petersburg, 
to  his  high  rank  and  future  lofty  station!  I  am  in  hopes 
that  Vera  Orlof's  later  married  rank  may  give  her  the 
power  to  cover  both  Irma  and  myself  under  her  secure 
station.  She  is  firmly  fixed  as  favorite  in  the  heart  of 
the  Czarina!  If  Irma's  rights  of  succession  be  pre 
served,  her  future  might  even  yet  be  brilliant!  " 

Two  weeks  later,  the  official  notification  of  Princess 
Beatrice  Maxutoffs  release  from  further  inquisition  was 
in  due  form  communicated  by  the  Minister  Resident.  A 
formal  expression  of  regret  for  the  invasion  of  Arthur 
Randolph's  rights  was  also  made  further  through  the 
American  Legation.  With  artful  wisdom,  the  artist 
hastened  to  take  up  the  broken  threads  of  his  past  ac 
quaintance  with  the  diplomat.  The  American  shielded 
himself  behind  the  natural  surprise  of  a  man  in  whose 
land  domiciliary  visits  were  unknown! — 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  305 

There  was  peace  and  quiet  at  Dresden,  and  Randolph's 
bright  face  bent  daily  over  his  work  at  his  studio.  For 
a  letter  from  Vera  Orlof  announced  the  departure  for 
Siberia,  via  America,  of  that  dangerous  enemy  of  the 
Dresden  circle,  Prince  Serge  Zubow! 

"  There  is  no  doubt  of  his  departure,"  wrote  the  Maid 
of  Honor.  "He  has  done  his  very  worst  here!  In  the 
Privy  Council  Inquisition,  Count  Fersen  and  the  Tartar 
gave  evidence  as  to  the  two  vessels  leaving  Sitka,  im 
properly  guarded,  under  obscure  commanders,  and  in 
defiance  of  especial  orders  from  the  Emperor,  touch 
ing  the  safety  of  the  archives  and  the  rich  tribute  car 
goes!  " 

"  Hold  there,  Arthur!"  interrupted  Olga,  who  listened 
carefully  weighing  every  word.  "Those  orders  never 
reached  Prince  Gregory!  They  were  purposely  delayed! 
Poor  Beatrice  will  bear  me  out  in  this!  " 

Randolph  pursued  his  reading: 

"An  especial  war  vessel  was  sent  by  Count  Fersen's 
order  to  convoy  the  cargoes  from  San  Francisco,  and 
the  two  ships  had  unwarrantably  sailed  before  the  arrival 
of  the  needful  guard-ship!  Zubow  has  been  specially 
charged  with  a  final  examination  of  and  report  on  the 
whole  mystery  of  this  disappearance  of  millions,  and 
the  unravelling  of  the  alleged  villainies,  for  the  Govern 
ment  detectives  have  found  the  richest  furs,  with  the 
especial  Imperial  Household  Tribute  mark  on,  crowding 
the  markets  of  London,  Leipzig  and  Amsterdam!  " 

"It  is  openly  charged  by  Count  Fersen,  that  Prince 
Maxutoff,  with  some  skilled  American  accomplices,  ran 
the  cargoes  into  obscure  United  States  ports,  and  has 
also  destroyed  the  Government  archives  to  cover  his 
peculations!  There  is  no  one  here  to  battle  for  him! 
Our  Irma  has  only  us  to  guard  her  now!  The  Russian- 


306  THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA. 

American  Fur  Company  also  boldly  demand  huge  sums 
from  the  Czar,  and  bring  up  some  startling  accounts!— 
Of  course,  these  can  have  been  made  up  in  the 
absence  of  the  lost  records.  The  capital  and  Court  are 
in  a  wild  ferment,  and  a  formal  demand  has  been  made 
on  the  American  Government  for  duplicate  papers  of 
the  details  of  the  transfer — Prince  Serge  Zubow  has 
been  placed  in  charge  of  the  whole  case,  taking  out 
instructions  to  the  Russian  Minister  at  Washington;  and 
Phillippi  goes  with  him!  Fersen  remains  here  to  con 
duct  the  Government's  case.  Now,  I  am  told  by  Milu- 
tin,  that  Prince  Gregory  Maxutoff  has  been  degraded  as 
a  common  private  soldier,  and  sentenced  to  serve  in  the 
'Punishment  Battalion'  at  Khiva!  No  home  commu 
nication  is  allowed  there, — and  they  are  shot  like  dogs  at 
the  slightest  infraction!  An  Imperial  Courier  told  my 
trusted  one  in  the  Caucasus  that  he  had  himself  seen  the 
ruined  noble!  After  a  long  study  of  all,  I  have  decided 
to  appeal  to  the  good  Empress  next  week!  I  shall  tell 
her  the  whole  story  of  Beatrice's  noble  kindness  to  you, 
and  beg  her  to  shield  the  Princess  and  Irma! — I  fear,  I 
shudder,  to  press  for  poor  Prince  Gregory *$  pardon!  He 
has  been  stricken  from  every  roll  of  honor,  —  I  must  wait 
and  try  to  have  the  one,  I  do  not  dare  to  name,  endeavor 
to  send  a  Circassian  on  to  Khiva  and  open  a  secret  com 
munication!  But  the  family  seems  doomed!  " 

"  Prince  Maxutoff  has  been  summarily  condemned  to 
perpetual  degradation, only  the  Emperors  Sign  Man 
ual  could  pardon  him! — The  Czar  has  even  forbidden 
his  name  to  be  mentioned!  He  was  in  a  towering  rage 
when  it  was  proposed  to  produce  Maxutoff  to  face  his 
many  accusers!  This  I  learned  from  Prince  Gortscha- 
koff's  daughter! — Hope  and  pray  for  my  success  with 
the  Empress!  I  will  send  Bertha  back  with  a  report  of 


THE    PRTN.tfSS    OF    ALASKA.  307 

my  success!  I  dare  not  trust  that  to  friendly  hands, 
like  this  note,  My  heart  goes  out  to  you.  I  forgot  to 
say  that  Phillippi  has  obtained  the  great  Russian  fur 
contracts.  "- 

"Countess  Olga!"  said  Randolph,  "  the  last  clause 
tells  the  whole  secret  story!  Fersen,  Zubow  and  Phil 
lippi  corruptly  control  this  huge  fur  venture!  They 
must  have  American  associates.  Through  them,  the  fur 
cargoes  stolen  were,  piecemeal,  sent  on  to  Europe!  The 
missing  ships  have  been  stolen,  the  archives  destroyed, 
and  Maxutoff,  who  would  have  been  in  charge  of  all  this, 
has  been  made  a  scapegoat! — It  was  necessary  to  get  him 
out  of  the  way!" 

Arthur  sprang  to  Countess  Olga's  side,  for  her  face 
was  ashen. 

"Ah!  my  God!"  You  pierce  my  heart!  I  see  the 
villainy  of  years!  Zubow  was  only  Fersen's  spy!  And 
they  murdered  my  noble  husband! My  Fedor!  " 

The  loving  widow  saw  the  truth  at  last! 

While  at  Dresden,  Butzow,  Randolph  and  the  Count 
ess  Olga  waited,  with  aching  hearts,  for  the  news  of  brave 
Vera's  appeal  to  the  Czarina's  heart,  the  daring  girl,  in 
maiden  single-heartedness,  plied  the  gentle  arts  of  her 
dainty  charms  upon  the  stately  Czarina! 

It  was  with  a  beating  heart  that  Vera  Orlof,  in  the 
lovely  gardens  of  Peterhof,  threw  herself  down  before 
the  Imperial  Lady,  as  they  watched  together  the  blue 
glimpses  of  the  Gulf  of  Finland  through  the  trembling 
trees. — The  fragrance  of  the  roses  was  wafted  by  the 
breezes,  bearing  the  plash  of  the  diamond  waters  of  the 
marble  cascade! 

Keenly  watching  the  moment  when  the  Czarina 
yielded  in  spirit  to  the  tenderness  brought  by  Russia's 
warmly  wooing  summer  days,  the  beautiful  supplicant, 


308  Tin;   n  "!••  AI.-\SK.\. 

in  broken  words,  implored  the  aid  of  the  First  Lady 
of  all  the  land!  — 

"Rise,  my  child!  It  can  be  no  great  secret  of  state 
which  racks  your  young  heart!  You  wear  no  crown! '»  the 
stately  Empress  sighed.  "A  favor!  My  help!  Do  you 
wish  some  one  particular  brave  young  officer  ordered 
back  to  Court?  Is  that  the  weighty  business?" 

The  Czarina  was  moved,  for  no  telltale  blushes  of 
affection  dyed  the  lovely  Maid  of  Honor's  cheeks! 

With  eager  flowing  words,  her  fringed  lashes  trem 
bling  with  tears,  the  pearl  of  the  Orlofs  spoke  to  the 
woman  heart  of  the  mighty  one!  The  Czarina's  brow 
was  very  grave,  as  she  stroked  the  girl's  silken  hair. 

"  .lf\'  Vcra!  You  will  please  bid  the  equerry  in  wait 
ing  bring  me  the  best  bouquet  he  can  find  for  you!  Let 
me  think  alone  over  your  request!  I  will  have  your 
answer,  when  you  bring  back  my  roses!" 

The  girl,  with  beating  heart,  watched  the  stately  Czar 
ina,  on  her  return,  in  an  agony  of  suspense. 

The  Empress*  eyes  were  gazing  far  away  in  their 
fixed  glances!  It  was  not  the  silver  sails  flecking  the 
sapphire  Gulf  of  Finland  she  saw. — It  was  a  picture  of 
lonely  Baranoff  castle  in  the  far  distant  Arctic! — For 
with  girlish  eloquence,  Vera  had  told  all  the  story  of  her 
kinswoman's  sad  life  at  Sitka  and  —  of  the  generous 
friendship  of  the  now  ruined  Maxutoff's! — 

At  a  sign,  the  maiden  knelt  before  her  royal  mistress. 

"  Here,  Vera,"  the  Empress  said,  with  an  affectionate 
glance,  "I  can  only  promise  Princess  Maxutoff  that  she 
shall  be  unmolested, —  —  that  her  estates,  her  child's 

rights, their  rank, shall  be  inviolate!  Let  her 

write  to  you  any  future  wishes  that  I  am  able  to  grant! 
Give  her  this  ring  as  a  pledge  of  my  own  sympathy! 
The  concession  and  patents  of  lands  will  stand  good  to 


THK     PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  309 

her  and  to  little  Irma!  But,  alas,  I  dare  not  even  men 
tion  her  husband's  name  to  the  Emperor!  I  can  name 
the  Princess  however  as  one  of  my  '  Ladies  in  Wait 
ing!' — To  be  'on  the  list'  will  be  a  safeguard!  Irma 
Maxutoff  shall  be  named,  at  once  as  my  special  charge, 
in  the  Catherine  Institute.  There,  I  can  protect  her 
against  all  human  interference!  It  is  my  sole  preroga 
tive!  Let  Madame  Maxutoff  remain  patiently  at  Dres 
den  until  the  future  will  throw,  perhaps,  a  new  light  on 
the  mystery!  It  is  almost  incredible  that  a  web  of 
crime  has  been  woven  around  the  Prince  as  an  innocent 

man, yet yet how  little  we  know!     You  can 

write  in  my  name  to  Countess  Olga  Orlof  that  her  noble 
devotion  to  her  benefactor  shall  seal  the  future  of  little 
Stephan!  It  is  a  sad  romance!  I  shall  have  inquiry 
made  into  the  matter  of  these  patents  you  speak  of,  and 
instructions  given!  Now,  my  child,  are  you  satisfied? 
You  can  write  through  my  own  secretary's  signet  to  the 
Minister  at  Dresden!" 

The  sunshine  breaking  through  the  bending  foliage  of 
the  exquisite  garden  park  seemed  brighter  to  the  kindly 
but  careworn  Czarina,  when  she  drank  in  the  impas 
sioned  devotion  of  the  grateful  girl's  eyes.  —  Her  rosy 
lips  pressed  kiss  after  kiss  on  the  hand  only  raised  in 
kindness.  And  the  mother  of  the  State,  with  her  bright- 
eyed  girl-adjutant  walked  back  in  chastened  silence,  to 
the  palace  where  the  golden  facade  letters  blazoned  the 
fane  of  mighty  Peter.  A  human  touch  of  love  and  ten 
derness  knitted  the  haughty  mistress  and  ardent  little 
maiden  even  more  closely  together  in  the  secret  of  a 
Czarina's  pledge  of  honor!  And  once  again,  Fortune 
smiled  upon  the  helpless  waif  borne  on  in  Life's  storm, 
cherished  and  loved  as  Little  Irma*  the  Princess  of 

20 


3io 


Till.     PRINCESb    -.'.     ALASKA. 


Alaska]      The  gleaming  of  the  phantom   coronet   shone 
again  through  the  dark  clouds  around!  — 

A  week  later,  in  the  salon  where  he  had  unwillingly 
performed  his  most  unpleasant  duty  of  executing  an 
Imperial  '  search  warrant,'  the  Russian  Minister  to  Sax 
ony,  /;/  his  own  person,  delivered  to  the  Princess  Bea 
trice  Maxutoff  a  sealed  letter  bearing  the  seal  of  the 
Private  Secretary  of  the  Czarina  of  Russia!  The  func 
tionary's  face  glowed  with  pride,  as  he  handed  the 
silent  sufferer  the  document,  and  his  full  dress  and  gala 
decorations  indicated  an  important  visit  of  ceremony! 
Baron  Butzow  was  overjoyed  at  the  sudden  turn  of  offi 
cial  intercourse! 

11 1  am  happy  to  add,  Madame  la  Princesse,  that  I 
have  also  received  instructions  from  the  Private  Secre 
tary  of  Her  Imperial  Majesty  to  inform  you  that  your  new 
appointment  as  'Lady  in  ]\\u'//ng'  gives  you  the  right 
to  address  the  Czarina  directly!  I  shall  be  pleased  to 
visa  your  passports  for  any  home  visits  you  may  wish  to 
make,  and  in  all  other  things  to  render  your  residence 
here  safe,  agreeable,  and  to  aid  you  in  any  way  properly 
in  my  power!  " 

After  the  official  had  departed,  Beatrice  raised  her 
eyes  from  the  letters. 

"The  Czarina's  kindness  is  truly  noble!  Yet,  I  am 
heart-broken,  Olga,  far  Gregory' s  fate  is  sealed!  My  hus 
band!  Afy  lover!  And  our  depleted  estates,  even  if  we 
retain  them,  will  be  lost  to  me!  I  am  practically  ruined! 
The  lands  can  not  be  sold  till  Irma  is  of  age!  Her  social 
future  is  to  be  secured, — and  I  am  now  penniless!  " 

"/am  not!  "  cried  Olga  Orlof!  "I  never  knew  //// 
now  the  blessed  power  of  my  well  guarded  patrimony! 
My  dear  one!  My  White  Rose!  I  hare  eaten  your  bread 
and  salt  I  You  need  not, — you  shall  not, — look  forward! 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  $11 

Do  you  remember  my  promise  in  old  Baranoff' s  halls  ? 
Vera  will  steal  Stephan  from  me  to  ride  at  the  head  of 
the  Orlofs, — and  your  Irma  shall  have  two  mothers!  We 
will  bide  our  time  together!  We  must  face  the  future, 
and  trust  to  the  winning  witch, — Vera!  " 

And  so  the  white  wings  of  peace  brooded  over  them, 
and  in  the  months  while  Nature  slowly  asserted  its 
blessed  magic  of  heart  healing,  Arthur  Randolph  labored 
on  that  famous  picture  of  Countess  Olga  which  glowed 
upon  his  canvas,  the  incarnation  of  his  virgin  genius! 
Irma,  standing  by  the  impassioned  artist,  knew  not  that 
the  delicate  philtre  of  the  wine  of  life,  quickening  her 
own>  placid  veins,  was  giving  to  her  shy  beauty  the  ex 
quisite  glow  of  virginal  youth  and  innocence!  The 
Princess  of  Alaska  was  dowered  with  a  delicate  beauty 
of  her  own!  Was  it  a  wonder  that  the  poet  painter 
found  the  unawakened  vestal  wondrous  fair  ?  The  Czar 
could  not  bid  the  rose  of  innocence  depart  from  her 
girlish  face  ! — 

The  settled  melancholy  of  Beatrice  Maxutoff  was  the 
only  cloud  resting  now  on  the  Dresden  menage.  In 
vain  did  the  triumphant  Vera  Orlof  cheer  Madame  Max 
utoff  with  her  hopeful  letters. — The  year  to  elapse  be 
fore  the  finishing  of  the  final  report  of  Count  Fersen 
and  Prince  Zubow  on  the  disaster  of  the  two  fur  ships 
would  be  only  one  long  agony  for  loving  Beatrice! 

"To  see  his  dear  face,  to  hear  his  beloved  voice,  even 
were  we  homeless  peasants  on  Volga's  banks,  would  be  to 
me  a  heaven  on  earth!  And  where  does  he  linger?  In 
what  misery?  Each  throb  of  his  lonely  heart  is  echoed 
in  my  own!"  — 

But  one  ray  of  sunshine  pierced  the  lowering  clouds 
of  sorrow. — 

Countess  Olga  was  radiant  when  she  read  a  sparkling 


312  iiii'   rkiNcT.ss  <»r  ALASKA. 

note  of  happy  rejoicing  from  that  dainty  plaything  of  an 
Empress,  Vera  Orlof. 

"He  is  coming!  His  two  years  of  dashing  service  in 
the  Caucasus  have  won  him  a  promotion  to  Lieutenant 
Colonel,  and  a  transfer  to  the  diplomatic  service  as  Mili 
tary  Attache!  The  Empress  herself  asked  his  recall, 
and  he  goes  first  to  Berlin,  then  later  to  London!  I 
shall  see  him  ///  two  weeks!  You  shall  see  him  too!  And 
as  the  Czarina  has  given  her  consent  on  my  Palace  life 
ending,  I  can  tell  you  now,  darling  Olga,  that  Prince 
Charming's  name  is  Dimitri  Narychkine!  He  will  aid 
us  in  searching  out  poor  Prince  Maxutoffs  place  of  inter 
ment,  for  he  will  be  able  to  have  direct  relations  through 
the  Foreign  Office!  I  shall  insist  on  his  doing  this! 
And  Dimitri  is  already  warmly  interested!" 

"  I  am  not  to  be  married  for  two  years!  Until  he  has 
earned  his  next  promotion,  in  the  new  career!  He  will 
have  a  very  powerful  influence  soon!  Even  the  Empress 
said  to  me:  '  He  must  be  made  a  Minister  before  you 
marry!  Do  you  know,  my  little  Vera,  that  Natalie 
Narychkine,  a  direct  ancestress  of  your  lover,  was  the 
mother  of  Peter  the  Great!  That  her  haughty  pride 
and  mental  energy  led  him  on  to  success,  and  that  her 
counsels  have  shaped  Russia's  destiny!  It  was  she  who 
married  the  wild  boy  Czar  to  a  Lapouchkine,  and  drew 
the  great  families  of  old  Russia  around  the  throne!  Your 
Dimitri  has  thus  a  claim  upon  the  Czar  cemented  by 
blood!  And  tojjv//,  an  Orlof,  is  due  the  meed  of  grati 
tude  for  your  ancestor  fostering  great  Catherine  IPs 
genius!  You  and  he  can  be  trusted  in  our  high  affairs! 
But,  my  little  Maid  of  Honor  shall  learn  dignity  before 
it  is  thrust  upon  her!'  Now,  my  Olga,  when  you  have 
seen  Dimitri,  you  will  know  why  I  love  him,  and  am  the 
happiest  girl  in  Russia!  " 


THE    PRINCESS   OF   ALASKA.  31 3 

il  This  will  be  a  great  pillar  of  strength  for  your  little 
man's  future,  this  high  alliance!  "  mused  Arthur.  "  I 
wonder  where  we  will  all  be  in  ten  years!  Stephan,  I 
know,  will  be  the  most  dashing  Imperial  Page  and 
Cadet  of  the  Garde  a  Cheval,  imaginable!  I  will  not  dare 
to  say  I  hope  to  be  a  great  artist!  " 

"  I  know  that  you  will  be!  "  cried  Olga,  warmly. 

Randolph  continued:  "  I  feel  that  your  return  to  St. 
Petersburg  must  follow  the  emergence  of  our  chrysalis 
Vera  into  a  grande  dame!  " 

"I  fear,"  he  sighed,  ''that  the  slender  cord  of  Prin 
cess  Maxtitoff's  life  will  soon  snap  under  the  certainty 
of  the  fate  I  fear  for  the  Prince!  Never  forget,  dear 
Countess,  that  I  regard  the  Alaskan  grants  as  a  great 
future  property  forjw/,  your  child  and  for  Irma!  If  she 
should  be  left  by  her  mother  to  you, — remember,  you 
must  claim  from  the  United  States  the  confirmed  grants! 
I  have  examined  the  papers  carefully  with  Baron  But- 
zow!  They  clearly  take  precedence  of  any  American 
disposition  of  these  lands," 

"  I  do  not  forget,  Arthur,"  replied  the  listener,  "My 
dear  Fedor  died  to  save  tliat  heritage  for  the  Governor 
General,  and  for  our  child!  It  has  led  to  Maxutoff's 
quarrel  with  Zubow,  and  later  to  his  ruin !  Dearly  bought, 
it  shall  be  hard  held!  For,  as  soon  as  Vera  Orlof  is  Vera 
Naryclikine, — when,  as  Minister,  he  can  have  weight  at 
the  Foreign  Office,  I  shall  claim  for  Stephan  and  myself 
the  possession  of  the  lands  through  the  Russian  Minis 
ter  at  Washington!" — : — 

"You  are  right  as  to  Irma!  Beloved  child!  I  fear 
these  future  interests  may  be  her  greatest  inheritance. 
She  shall  live  yet  to  be  the  golden  Princess  of  Alaska! 
We  must  save  her  rights!  For  the  hopes  of  claiming 
pension,  arrearages  and  all  official  dues  of  her  father  are 


314  'mi.    1'Ki:. 

lost  in  the  destruction  of  the  archives.  She  must  not 
want!" 

Olga's  eyes  wnv  \ «  ry  tender,  and  the  shadowy  past 
rushed  on  her  mind,  with  its  record  of  Maxutoffs  unsel 
fish  devotion. 

"She  shall  not  be  a  prey  to  bitter  fortune  while  /  draw 
breath!" — vigorously  protested  Randolph,  who  suddenly 
reddened  and  sought  his  studio  when  fair  Olga's  blue 
eyes  sought  the  reason  of  his  peculiar  vehemence!  In 
his  heart,  he  had  sworn  the  fealty  of  the  coming  years  to 
the  shy  girl  beauty, — tlie  Princess  of  A  Li  ska! 

"Ah!"  thought  the  lady,  "the  roses  every  season 
bring  a  deeper  dye  to  Irma's  cheek;  the  sunlight  a  richer 
tint  to  her  golden  hair!  In  these  young  natures,  the  subtle 
mysterious  call  of  Love's  magical  voice  awakens  a  new 
music  daily  in  their  fresh  young  hearts!  I  can  trust  to  the 
happy  future,  to  the  kindly  fates  to  shield  this  nestling 
of  my  heart !  Even  a  struggling  artist  can  have  his  guarded 
palace  of  Truth,  where  there  is  but  one  sweet  girlish  voice 
to  whisper:  "Open  Sesame!  It  is  I" 

Beautiful  Olga  Orlof,  lighter  at  heart,  with  a  meaning 
smile,  watched  the  frank  association  of  the  painter  and 
his  gentle  sprite,  the  Ariel  of  the  studio! 

—  "Gentlemen!  You  must  not  linger  here  in  Wash 
ington!"  said  the  Senator,  as  he  rose  at  the  conclusion 
of  a  last  confidential  interview  with  Phillippi  and  the 
blunt  Tartar  Chief  Prince  Zubow! 

It  was  in  August,  1870,  and  the  fashionable  world  had 
deserted  the  shimmering,  sweltering  stretch  of  Pennsyl 
vania  Avenue.  Only  "  necessary  business  "  was  trans 
acted  at  the  languid  Departments, — half  of  whose  ambi- 
tionless  hirelings  were  now  on  leave. — The  feebly 
guarded  Treasury,  now  baked  in  the  glare  of  a  vertical 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  315 

sun,  was  tenanted  only  by   listless  clerks,   furtive  claim 
agents  and  never  tiring,  prowling  lobbyists!— 

The  Senator's  hospitalities  to  his  associates  were 
sumptuous,  and  justified  the  selection  of  the  Chesapeake 
Bay  and  the  rich  Potomac  as  the  happy  feeding  ground 
of  the  pre-Revolutionary  aristocrats!  All  their  sly  faces 
were  beaming  around  the  splendid  board  where  Paul 
Bradford's  gray  eye  gleamed  wolfishly  as  future  millions 
were  discussed!  .With  a  creamy  glass  of  Veuve  Cliquot 
raised  in  air,  the  statesman,  in  the  privacy  of  the  special 
dining  room,  drank  gaily:  "  To  our  association!  There  is 
.nothing  to  do  now  but  to  reap  the  harvest!  Our  friends, 
on  August  3d,  obtained  a  twenty  years'  lease  which 
makes  them  the  Kings  of  the  Arctic  until  1890!  You 
have  presented  the  other  side  of  the  medal  to  the  gracious 
Czar,  and  the  same  two  decades  of  monopoly  in  Russian 
waters  will  bring  us  together  as  the  Fur  Kings  of  the 
world!  Let  us  not  forget  that  low  envy  might  trace  our 
(footsteps!  The  sooner  you  possess  yourself  of  the 
Komandorski  group,  the  better,  for  my  young  friend 
Bradford  here  sails  on  a  Revenue  Cutter  in  two  weeks 
from  San  Francisco,  on  an  important  Government  trust 
in  Alaska!  To  prove  to  you  that  Yankees  never  sleep,  I 
dispatched  our  San  Francisco  manager  the  moment  that 
I  saw  the  seal  and  signature,  dated  August  3,  1870, 
affixed  to  our  contract!  Before  I  sat  down  with  you  I 
had  the  brief  words:  'Steamer  Bonanza  sails  to-night 
for  the  Prybiloffs.'  There  is  nothing  left  for  us  to  do, 
my  friends,  but  to  drink  the  health  of  the  Czar!  of  the 
President,  and  to  go  our  ways, — to  reap  a  sure  harvest 
from  a  judicious  golden  silence! '"- 

"I  think  our  interests  will  bind  us  strictly  together! 
No  man  will   rob  himself!"  laughed  Phillippi.      ''This 


316  TIIF.     I'KIM    i  I  I    \-K  \. 

tiling  is  after  all  only  an  international  grab-bag,  in  which 
we  alone  get  all  the  prizes!  And  there  is  enough  for  all!" 

"Your  idea  is  a  good  one,  Excellency!"  growled  the 
saturnine  Zubow. 

"  I  leave  to-morrow!' 

"Good!  "  echoed  Phillippi.  "  I  can  tell  my  backers, 
the  Rothschilds,  that  /  hare  seen  the  United  States'  Great 
Seals  upon  the  compact!  I  take  the  first  Cunarder  to 
London!  You  must  not  recognize  me,  Prince,  if  we  meet 
on  the  railway,  or  in  California!  Remember  that  fellow 
McMann  and  his  pirate  associates  will  continually  watch 
us  all!"— 

"Yes; — he  is  a  dangerous  scoundrel  I"  calmly  added  the 
Senator,  a  scoundrel  himself,  not  "dangerous"  in  the 
frontier  sense,  but  far  more  deadly  in  his  resentment  than 
the  whaler  I — 

"I  will  move  a  war  vessel  and  several  Revenue  Cut 
ters  at  once  into  the  Arctic,  and  every  fur  and  bit  of 
valuable  trade  will  drift  into  our  coffers! — I  must  see 
the  President  to-morrow!  The  prowlers  must  be  taught 
to  respect  the  national  flag!"  Bradford  was  obliged  to 
smile  at  the  haughtv  tone  of  public  spirit  with  which  the 
lordly  Senator  invoked  the  cheaply  used  flag  to  screen  the 
private  scheme  of  infamy  he  had  helped  to  push  through! — 

As  the  statesman  and  his  journalistic  henchman  fol 
lowed  the  returning  Muscovite  guests,  at  a  safe  distance, 
Bradford  whispered:  "I  am  glad  you  hastened  their 
departure!  The  '  Newspaper  Row  '  men  here  are  keen 
nosed,  sharp  fanged  and  hungry!  " 

"Yes,  it  is  just  as  well!  I  detest  public  scandal!" 
remarked  the  Senator,  slipping  on  his  invisible  toga 
with  a  halo  attached,  and  as  austere  in  his  manner  as  a 
society  messalina,  speaking  of  the  last  poor  ballet 
dancer  led  astray!  "There  is  entirely  too  much  intrusion 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA. 

on  public  men  in  our  <  go-as-you-please  '  country!  "  The 
grave  and  reverend  seignior  himself  lived  behind  a  stucco 
mask  of  public  virtues  and  conventional  morality!  Rich, 
sleek,  quiet,  judicious  and  powerful,  <he  moved  in  a  mys 
terious  way,  — his  wonders  to  perform ! '  A  harrowing  tale 
once  drifted  to  the  Pacific  coast  that  his  prim  face  had 
been  seen  by  accident  where  popping  corks,  the  gleam 
of  gold,  the  bizarre  manoeuvres  of  the  "game,"  the 
suspicious  rustle  of  dearly  bought  robes  and  the  parthian 
glances  of  laughing  eyes,  told  of  the  rosy  realms  of 
Bacchus  and  Venus!  A  sober  public,  reading  his  last 
moral  speech,  refused  to  think  that  the  senatorial  feet 
could  be  made  of  clay, — that  they  could  ever  wander — 
"There  is  much,  in  decorum,  and  a  judicious  avoidance  of 
publicity" — remarked  the  Senator,  when  this  unholy 
lampoon  reached  him! — "My  character  is  proof,  how 
ever,  against  attack!"  It  was  even  so!  And,  behind 
the  varnish  and  vaneer  of  American  political  greatness, 
the  real  man  safely  lurked, — dallying  with  his  pet  vices, — 
at  heart,  sensual,  base,  coarse,  tJie  very  triumph  of  vulgar 
mediocrity!  His  peccadilloes  were  safe  with  his  chosen 
associates  of  the  Senate!  It  was  high  time  that  wealth 
bubbled  around  them  in  a  golden  flood! — That  sybartic 
feasts  waited  them! — That  provokingly  pretty  women 
played  the  willing  Egeria  to  these  amiable  sages!  Ah! 
Arcana  imperil!  Hidden  under  the  laces  of  snowy 
bosoms,  these  State  secrets  were  never  divulged  to  the 

'outsider!'  Silence, — golden  silence ! The  Statesman's 

motto! — 

"Now,  my  boy,  you  have  all  your  orders!  /have  a 
private  appointment!"  The  Senator  softly  smiled. 
"  Come  over  to  my  rooms  at  midnight!  You  will  then  get 
the  map  and  sketches  which  Zubow  gave  to  me!  I  will 
have  your  ten  thousand  dollars  ready  there  in  currency! 


31 H  THE    PRINCESS    (»1     Al   \ 

As  you  take  the  morning  train,  all  you  have  to  do  is  to 
telegraph  me  when  you  will  sail!  And  keep  my  agent 
Herron  informed  of  all!  He  will  give  you  a  cipher 
which  any  one  of  the  Fur  Company's  trusted  agents  can 
read!  Eben  Tomlinson  takes  sole  charge  for  our  fur 
associates  at  San  Francisco,  and  Sitka,  as  well  as  at  the 
Prybiloffs,  our  vital  point!  On  your  life,  never  let  them 
know  of  this  private  dividend  of  mine!  If  you  meet 
McMann  up  in  the  Arctic,  keep  him  a:cay  from  Golden 
Island!  Your  own  fortune  depends  on  baffling  this  brute 
— McMaun's  curiosity!  He  evidently  has  tricked  you! 
I  have  sent  out  a  confidential  hint  to  the  Captain  of  the 
Revenue  Cutter  that  his  advancement  depends  on  backing 
yon  up  blindly!  If  the  mysterious  claimant,  tJic  dangerous 
1  French  Pete '  ever  appears,  detain  him  up  there  by  force! 
I  ask  no  details  of  yon,  Paul,  only  solid  results!  Your 
journalistic  work  this  season  has  been  royal!  It  has  fixed 
the  l  paternalism  of  our  Alaskan  policy  '  firmly  in  the  mind 
of  every  good  tax-payer  and  voter!  Now,  I  have  safely 
sealed  up  in  a  vault  here  a  copy  of  Zubow's  map  and 
sketch!  One  otJier  is  in  the  Sub-Treasury  at  New  York, 
in  my  own  sealed  strong  box!  Should  any  trouble  occur, 
destroy  your  own  set  of  private  documents,  for  /  can 
replace  them!" — A  prudent  Senator! 

Bradford  was  now  ready  for  the  seven  days'  jaunt  over 
the  rough  Pacific  Railroad,  where  the  buffalo  still  roamed 
by  tens  of  thousands,  when  the  joyous  Senator  met  him 
at  midnight! — He  was  radiant! 

"There you  are,  my  boy,"  cried  the  capitalist  states 
man. —  "I  have  one  thing  only  to  lire  for,  that  is  to  see 
the  patent  issued  to  me  for  these  gold  lands!  Do  not  spare 
any  expense  to  hasten  on  your  official  papers,  the  surrey 
maps,  entries  and  your  reports  to  me,  through  Herron  !  The 
Revenue  Cutter  has  my  orders  to  bring  your  reports  at 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  319 

once  down  to  San  Francisco!  The  Collector  at  San 
Francisco  owes  to  me  this  return  for  special  favors,  for 
he  is  also  a  fur  associate! — Make  no  mistake!  I  intend 
to  put  machinery  worth  a  half  million  dollars  on  this 
great  mine.  I  have  just  received  the  secret  report  of 
the  Assistant  Secretary  of  State.  It  appears  that  the 
possession  was  given  and  the  seven  millions  in  gold  were 
paid  on  a  mere  interchange  of  notes  between  Secretary 
Seward  and  Baron  Stoeckl,  the  Russian  Minister,  in 
1867, — why,  I  know  not,  for  the  solemn  treaty  was  only 
ratified  this  year,  and  bears  the  legal  date  of  March  jo, 
1870!  Now,  in  this,  is  a  clause  providing  that  any 
proper  claims  shall  be  equitably  settled,  and  that  all 
land  grants  made  heretofore,  under  the  great  seal  of 
Russia,  to  private  parties,  shall  hold  good!  There  are 
none,  I  am  told!  None  as  yet  on  file! — The  Russian- 
American  Fur  Company's  old  charter  is  annulled,  and 
the  realty  all  thrown  back  in  block,  to  the  United  States! 
There  is  no  danger  of  conflict!  Make  the  locations 
correctly,  and  the  Golden  Island  is  mine!  There  is  nothing 
to  fear! " 

''But,  I  shall  not  leave  the  East  until  I  have  the 
patents,  in  my  pocket!  You  must  hold  on  to  the  island 
with  your  life!  I  have  already  sent  the  collector  a 
positive  request  to  have  five  armed  sailors  landed  to 
protect  you  as  a  Government  officer!  You  know  what 
they  are  really  for! — Only  to  hold  our  island !  As  soon 
as  you  hear  that  I  have  made  the  entries  here  and 
obtained  the  patents,  you  will  come  down  at  once  to 
San  Francisco,  on  the  Revenue  Cutter's  return  trip.  I 
will  have  instructions  for  you  from  the  Secretary  of  the 
Interior." 

The  sly  old  modern  Midas  laughed. 

"I  will  meet  you  there!     Yes!     Paul,    the   Island  is 


320  Tin:   PRINCESS   OF    M.ASKA. 

mine!  When  I  gef  my  c/tnvs  on  a  good  bit  of  property, 
there  I  cling,  hooked  like  an  eagle!" 

"  Now,  '  Good-night! '  Spare  nothing  to  give  me  the 
news  I  desire!  Our  future  meeting  there  at  San  Fran 
cisco  will  then,  see  you  raised  above  any  frown  of 
Fortune  !  Herron  will  send  up  a  brave  and  skilled 
frontier  miner  with  you,  to  technically  examine!  Above 
all,  let  no  one,  land  on  the  island  until  you  know  that  my 
title  is  impregnable!  You  will  have  my  despatch!  Her 
ron  will  send  ten  men  then  who  will  hold  it  against  all 
comers!  If  no  one  lias  been  before  its, — we  have  a  prize 
of  untold  value!  The  golden  sjeps  to  our  princely 
fortunes!  Not  a  human  being  is  to  enter  an  acre  of 
land  in  Alaska,  but  this  one  survey!  When  you  are  done 
your  jollification  at  San  Francisco,  you  can  return  and 
leisurely  open  your  real  official  headquarters  at  Sitka." 

"  By  that  time,  we  can  defy  the  President  himself!  The 
island  is  mine  !  There  is  not  a  shadow  on  this  golden 
fortune!  " 

The  stars  shone  down  at  Dresden  on  a  loyal  hearted 
guardian  of  the  little  Princess  of  Alaska,  who  dreamed, 
as  he  mixed  his  colors  and  bent  over  his  easel,  of  the 
happy  future  day  when,  free  to  claim  her  rights  under  a 
patent,  never  to  be  revoked,  gentle  Irma  Maxutoff  would 
come  unto  her  own! 

"They  shall  not  rob  her!  But  first,— first,— to  sare 
her  gallant  father!  " 

And  generously,  Arthur  Randolph  poured  out  the  ten 
derness  of  his  nature  upon  the  gentle  child  whose  love 
untroubled  bosom  knew  the  sighs  only  of  a  daughter's 
sorrows! — 

The  magic  sceptre  of  Love  waited  to  sweep  in  disturb 
ing  witchery  over  the  unquickened  heart  of  the  Princess 
of  Snows! 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  321 

Two  weeks  later,  the  Revenue  Cutter,  "  Panther," 
steamed  out  of  the  harbor  of  San  Francisco  on  a  misty 
afternoon.  The  cold  gray  wreaths  hid  lofty  Tamalpais, 
and  veiled  old  Monte  Diablo.  As  the  sturdy  Captain 
sprang  to  his  station  and  rang  to  the  engine  room,  at 
the  gangway,  Paul  Bradford  exchanged  a  few  earnest 
words  with  Herron  and  Tomlinson.  The  heavy  revenue 
steamer  forged  ahead  slowly  as  slie  rounded  North 
Point,  her  vertical  striped  flag,  with  its  blue  eagle  and 
thirteen  stars  streaming  out  proudly!  A  light  hawser 
drew  a  puffing  tug  along  in  the  choppy  green  water! 

"Remember, — all  our  fortunes  depend  on  your  judg 
ment  2&<\  fidelity,  Bradford,"  was  Herron's  brief  adieu. 

"I  know  it!  My  own,  also!  Trust  my  devotion!" 
said  the  lynx-eyed  emissary.  He  burned  to  be  away  on 
the  high  seas! 

Smiling,  smooth  Eben  Tomlinson  murmured  a  last 
confidence,  as  the  tug  whistled.  He  was  already  the 
invisible  despot  of  the  unorganized  purchased  realm! 

"You  can  always  count  on  us!  It  is  really  all  tlie 
same  pocket!"  grinned  Tomlinson,  ignorant  that  even 
now  his  Senatorial  partner  was  robbing  his  nefarious 
associates! 

Out  on  the  breaking  waters  of  the  bar,  the  strong 
steamer  steadily  moved,  her  decks  cumbered  with  the 
camping  supplies  and  freight  of  the  mighty  Senator's 
secret  expedition.  The  gray  wet  fog  soon  drove  Brad 
ford  from  the  deck.  For  the  steamer's  prow  was  headed 
for  Golden  Island,  the  unreaped  scattered  harvest  of 
centuries. 

"That's  it!  Take  a  turn  in!  I'll  land  you  safely  at 
Tako  Inlet  in  four  days!"  cried  the  jolly  captain,  as  Paul 
saw  the  Golden  Gate  slowly  vanish,  hidden  in  the  cling 
ing  mantle  of  the  Gray  Friar! 


322  TIIK   TRIXCKSS  or    \i .  \ 

"All  is  safe  for  a  straight  run,  now.""1  thought  Brad 
ford,  as  he  closed  his  eyes!  "Nothing  can  rob  me  of 
my  fortune!  It  is  too  late  for  that  sly  devil,  the  Senator, 
to  trust  any  one  else!  " 

The  secret  papers  were  securely  sewed  in  the  journa 
list's  coat  lining. 

"Was  I  dreaming?  or  did  the  engines  stop?"  asked 
Paul  when,  six  hours  later,  he  found  the  Captain  settling 
down  to  his  quarter  deck  stride.  The  stars  were  sweep 
ing  over  them,  and  the  "Panther"  sped  along  on  the 
open  sea!  The  bar  and  its  rollers  lay  fifty  miles  astern! 
Paul  joined  the  commander  in  his  promenade  and  even 
ing  cigar.  - 

"Yes!  We  slowed  up,  and  picked  up  a  poor  devil  of 
a  castaway,  clinging  to  a  broken  spar.  We  found  him 
drifting  away  with  the  in  shore  current  as  we  passed  the 
Farallones.  He  was  nearly  dead  from  cold!  The  stew 
ards  gave  him  a  rubbing  and  some  hot  grog,  and  he  is 
now  sleeping  in  one  of  the  firemen's  bunks.  He  had  a 
miglity  close  call  I  " 

"What  will  you  do  with  him?"  said  the  journalist. 
"Oh!  The  Government  gives  us  revenue  men  a  sort  of 
general  discretion  in  such  matters!  He  can  mess  around 
with  the  sailors!  I'll  either  turn  him  loose  at  San  Fran 
cisco,  or  let  him  go  ashore  and  become  one  of  the  First 
Citizens  of  your  New  Territory!  "  In  the  laughing  collo 
quy  the  waif  of  the  sea  was  soon  forgotten. — 

In   four  days,  Paul  Bradford's  heart  began  to  flutter 

with  a  strange  excitement.      He  stood  at  Fortunes  gates! 

—The  stern,  silent  coast  line  of  Alaska  now  loomed  up, 

before  his  eager  eyes,  and  every  turn  of  the  screw  swept 

him  on  to  the  frontier  of  the  dream  of  years! 

"Can  it  be  only  some  colossal  humbug? — a  mere 
fancy? — this  Treasure  Island!  "  thought  Bradford,  as  the 


THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA.  323 

well-remembered  crags  met  his  eye  once  more.  Mount 
Edgecumbe,  lifting  aloft  its  warder  peak,  glittered  before 
him!  "I  will  know  the  worst  or  best,  very  soon!"  mused 
Bradford,  as  he  marshalled  his  secret  party  the  night 
before  Dome  Peak  marked  the  entrance  of  Lynn  Canal, 
and  the  termination  of  the  quest!  On  the  " Panther" 
the  bustle  of  preparation  for  landing  busied  the  whole 
crew. — A  grand  jollification  of  the  mess  room  signalized 
the  quick  run,  and  Bradford,  who  had  watched  all  day 
the  superb  panorama  of  the  Fairweather  mountains, 
joined  heartily  in  the  officers'  merriment!  His  subordi 
nates  were  all  ready  to  carry  out  Herron's  secret  orders, 
and  a  dozen  more  skillful  prospectors  never  emptied  a 
dem  ijoh  n  I 

In  the  fairy  moonlight,  Scidmore  Island  dreamed  upon 
deep  starlit  seas,  the  mighty  hills  sleeping  around  the 
exquisite  bay  like  couchant  lions.  On  the  decks,  the 
sailors,  with  fiddle  and  horse  play,  amused  themselves. 
As  the  anxious  captain  left  the  deck  to  his  executive,  he 
quietly  said  to  Bradford:  "I'll  have  you  at  anchor,  and 
the  steam  launch  ready  at  daybreak,  to  land  your  party! 
By  the  way,  as  you  will  camp  and  need  help,  take  along 
that  poor  devil  we  picked  up!  He  seems  half  starved, 
even  half-witted! —  The  sailors  all  torment  him,  and  he 
may  be  of  some  use  to  you.  He  seems  to  be  a  a  foreign 
er,  and  no  one  can  get  him  to  talk  or  tell  how  he  got 
into  the  grip  of  the  currents  of  the  Farallones." 

Long  after  the  cabin  merriment  was  over,  Bradford 
paced  the  deck  in  secret  excitement.  The  anchor 
rattled  down  at  midnight,  and  before  them,  the  wild 
bluffs  of  the  Tako  region  frowned  in  the  still  night! 
Paul  tossed  in  his  cabin  restlessly  till  the  crimson  dawn 
roused  him  to  action! — 

Warned  by  wary  Herron  to  trust  no  one  with  the  object 


324  THE   FRWCESS   OF  ALASKA. 

of  his  quest, — Bradford  was  on  deck  at  daybreak,  alert 
and  eagerly  waiting  till  the  fog  of  dawn  should  roll  away. 
The  light  glimmered  down  the  dark  ridges  of  Juneau, 
now  black  with  silvery  snow  wreaths  filling  their  deep 
crevices! 

Paul  could  not  resist  an  exclamation  of  delight,  for 
there  before  him,  lay  « the  high  green  island,'  sheltered  in 
its  triangular  channels!  His  heart  beat  high  as  he  com 
pared  the  outlines  and  the  bearings  with  his  treasured 
secret  sketch! 

"  I  must  be  placed  a  mile  or  so  farther  down  to  verify 
these  bearings  and  angles!" — he  mused.  "Yet,  it  is  a 
wonderfully  accurate  piece  of  work!"— 

Rolling  gray  and  yellow  rock  ledges  breasted  the 
sloping  knolls  of  the  island  and  olive  green  masses  of 
stunted  pines  clung  to  the  sheltered  hollows  and  drifted 
soil  thrown  down  in  past  ages. — 

"  There  can  be  no  mistake! — The  Russian's  topography 
does  not  lie! — Now,  is  the  hidden  golden  treasure  a  fool's 
story?  I  shall  know  the  truth  soon" — he  cried. 

"  I  am  at  your  orders!  "  cheerily  cried  the  captain,  as 
he  called  Bradford  to  the  delights  of  morning  coffee  and 
a  Government  breakfast. 

"It  is  very  strange,  Bradford,  but  there  is  a  whaler 
lying  down  in  the  bay  a  couple  of  miles  below  the  island. 
I  don't  see  what  these  fellows  have  to  do  in  here!  They 
may  be  trading  illicit  rum  with  the  natives  for  furs!  The 
fellow,  however,  is  a  fool! — If  a  sudden  blow  came  on, 
he  would  be  thrown  ashore  and  his  ship  broken  up! 
The  main  coast  is  very  rough!  I'll  send  the  launch  over 
after  I  land  you,  and  soon  find  out  what  he  is  doing 
here!" 

Paul  Bradford's  eyes  gleamed  with  a  strange  fire. 

"A  whaler? — Could  there  be  some  secret  expedition  to 


THE    PRINCfcSS    <JF   ALASKA.  325 

probe  the  coast  in  search  of  the  long  talked  of  gold 
fields  of  the  Indians?" 

"You  can  land  me  with  my  party  now  as  soon  as  you 
wish!  I  will  take  half  the  men,  look  over  the  island 
and  get  a  general  view  of  the  topography  from  Tts  sum 
mit.  You  can  send  the  launch  back  at  sundown  to  our 
landing  point.  If  I  find  good  wood,  water  and  shelter, 
I  will  choose  a  camp  and  make  the  mouth  of  the  Tako 
the  initial  point  for  my  land  maps!  We  can  see  Dome 
Peak  for  fifty  miles  along  the  coast." 

"Good!  But  you  had  better  have  your  men  armed'11 
said  the  captain,  "  these  fierce  brown  bears,  (larger  than 
grizzlies),  often  swim  these  narrow  fiords  in  search  of  the 
smaller  animals  crowding  the  islands!" — 

Half  an  hour  later,  as  Bradford,  his  private  prepara 
tions  done,  stepped  on  board  the  launch,  a  group  of 
sailors  were  tormenting  the  rescued  castaway  who  now 
made  frantic  efforts  to  reach  the  boat! 

"Let  the  poor  devil  go  along!  He  can  carry  some 
thing!  He  seems  so  eager  to  land!" 

And  in  truth  the  worn  frame  of  the  stranger,  a 
straggling  gray  beard,  restless,  wolfish  eyes,  and  a 
strange  torrent  of  mingled  dialects,  gave  a  weird  appear 
ance  to  the  struggling  man,  clad  now  in  cast-off  sailor's 
garb! — With  singularly  eager  gesticulation,  he  urged  the 
boat  on,  as  the  launch  swept  toward  the  point  designated 
for  landing! — 

"There's  a  boat  going  back  to  the  whaler,  sir,"  cried  a 
quarter-master  touching  his  hat,  as  he  addressed  the 
boat  officer. 

"  Looking  for  fresh  water,  I  suppose,"  carelessly  an 
swered  the  Lieutenant  in  charge.  "That  main  land  is 
very  dangerous  for  landing  parties!  " 

When  the  launch  grazed  the  gravelly  beach,  Bradford 
21 


326  THF,    1'RINCKSS    OF    ALASKA. 

was  astonished  to  see  the  wanderer  of  the  sea,  the  very  first 
to  leap  out,  and  disappear  with  the  swiftness  of  a  beast 
seeking  corcr  in  the  low  bushes! 

"Some  one  of  you  had  better  look  after  him  by  and  by! 
Singular  man!'" — was  Bradford's  remark,  as  he  sprang 
on  shore  and  ran  to  the  point  to  gain  his  first  view  of 
the  inner  canal,  with  its  distant  cliff  shores.  There,  in 
full  sight,  a  deeply  laden  whaler  rested  on  the  tranquil 
waters,  her  sides  lined  with  boats  crowding  the  davits! — 

"What  can  they  meant  "the  explorer  reflected,  as, 
pistol  in  hand,  he  climbed  the  five  hundred  foot  peak  of 
the  island. 

It  was  a  beautiful  scene: — the  silent  sylvan  reaches  of 
the  low  shores,  the  abrupt  cliffs  of  the  Tako,  the  trian 
gular  blue  sparkling  water  boundaries,  and  far  gloomy 
Dome  Peak  rising  heavenwards  in  giant  bulk. 

"This  is  tJie  very  place!"  Bradford  whispered  under 
his  breath,  as  he  took  out  his  map,  when  he  had  sta 
tioned  a  guard  to  watch  his  labors,  and  dispersed  the 
party  to  generally  explore  the  mile  long  quartzose  rocky 
island,  which  was  the  very  spot  of  Zubow's  careful 
sketching.  Suddenly,  Bradford  dropped  his  glass. 

"Here,  Raymond,  you  wait  ready!  I  see  something! 
Give  me  your  rifle!  " 

Handing  the  astonished  prospector  his  pistol,  Paul 
Bradford,  with  springy  step,  swiftly  strode  down  the 
sloping  sides  of  a  hollow  which  his  glasses  had  explored! 

"I  suppose  it  is  only  some  deer  that  has  crossed  the 
strait!''  thought  the  miner,  as  he  quietly  "interviewed" 
his  pocket  flask.  But  Bradford's  heart  was  filled  with 
a  sudden  rage!  A  man  was  quietly  busied  at  work  in  the 
very  canon  he  descended  !  Something  S/U»HC  in  his 
hands  as  he  bent  over  a  water  pool! — 

"By  Heavens!     It  is  a  man  at  workt  washing  gold  out t 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  327 

with  a  pan!  He  shall  not  leave  this  island!  I  sec  the 
trick!  This  fellow  has  been  landed /;w;/  the  whaler!"  - 

Paul's  heart  was  filled  with  blackest  thoughts  as  he 
neared  the  man  whose  back  was  towards  him!  He  was 
carefully  peering  down  into  the  shining  blue  iron  pan  in 
his  hands  !  There  was  here  another  possessor  of  the 
great  secret!  Another  man  who  coveted  that  treasure 
for  which  the  claws  of  Midas  were  now  stretched  out 
from  far  Washington!  With  a  sudden  start,  the  man 
turned  and  faced  Bradford,  who  came  leaping  down  the 
hillside. 

"  Good  God!""  cried  Paul,  "McMann!  what  are  you 
doing  here?  What  business  have  you  on  this  island?  " 

Bradford  was  enlightened  at  last!  McMann  had  duped 
him  and  stolen  the  secret!  The  rough  sailor  glanced 
anxiously  at  Bradford's  ready  rifle!  He  was  unarmed; 
save  for  his  sailor's  sheath  knife!  And  the  gold  washer's 
pan  lay  where  it  had  been  dropped  at  his  feet! — 

"  I  have  as  much  business  here  as  you!"  roughly  replied 
the  burly  mate,  springing  forward  to  grapple  the  new 
comer  ! — 

"Not  another  step!"  cried  Bradford,  throwing  up  his 
cocked  rifle! — "  You  will  answer  to  me  for  this!  " 

And  with  a  wild  halloo,  he  loudly  called  his  men,  who 
came  quickly  scrambling  down  the  hill!  The  sentinel 
had  already  warned  his  fellows,  who  hastened  to  Brad 
ford's  aid,  mindful  of  the  Captain's  lurking  lt bears!" 

"Men!  Secure  this  trespasser!  He  must  not  leave 
the  island!" 

"  /'//  see  about  that!  "  yelled  McMann!  "  I  have  sixty 
men  on  my  ship  here,  and  Y\\  pitch  you  into  Lynn  Canal! 
I  have  as  much  right  to  a  claim  here  as  you  have!  This 
is  now  free  for  all! — 

"I  have  a  Revenue  Cutter  here  with  a  hundred  men  and 


328  11IK    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

her  guns,  and  I  will  sink  your  damned  whaler,  if  you  resist! 
Don't  be  ayW/as  well  as  a  black-hearted  liar,  McMann! 
—You  stole  the  Frenchman  away  from  me  and  so  robbed 
me!  But  you  are  at  tJie  end  of  your  rope  now! — Do  you 
surrender?  If  you  do  not,  I  will  give  the  order  to  shoot 
and  cripple  you!  " 

Bradford  was  white  with  rage.  McMann's  villainy 
was  unmasked  at  last ! 

"  Throw  down  that  knife — quick!"  Paul  ordered. 

And  Aleck  McMann,  still  stubborn  and  defant,  waited 
till  the  guns  were  cocked  before  he  finally  cast  the  glit 
tering  blade  down  upon  the  moss!  — 

"  Here!  Take  him.  over  there  out  of  sight  of  the  water!  " 
ordered  Bradford,  who  called  up  his  secret  associate, 
Herron's  most  trusted  desperado!  "I  wish  to  capture 
his  boat's  crew  also  when  they  come  back!  Then,  the 
Revenue  Cutter  can  escort  this  whaler  to  Sitka,  for  ille 
gal  rum  trading  witJi  the  natives!  But,  what  shall  we  do 
with  this  felloiv,  Raymond?  He  knows  too  much!"" 

"  Let  us  think  it  over  a  bit!"  Raymond  said. — 

There  was  a  dark  suggestion  in  his  tone! — McMann  had 
thrown  his  huge  bulk  sullenly  down  on  the  soft  moss. 
His  two  guards,  at  a  few  paces  distance,  leisurely  watched 
him,  as  they  lounged,  pistol  in  hand.  The  silence  was 
only  broken  by  the  scream  of  a  soaring  sea  bird  and  the 
trickle  of  water  in  the  runlet.  While  Paul,  in  an  omin 
ous  colloquy,  was  busied  with  Raymond,  the  guards  did 
not  notice  the  gaunt  figure  of  the  shipwrecked  man,  who 
stealthily  appoached  from  the  coppice! — His  tread  was 
light  as  a  leopard's, — suddenly  he  caught  sight  of  McMann, 
as  he  lay  at  ease!  Stooping,  the  unknown  slyly  picked 
up  something  which  glittered,  as  he  sprang  forward,  with 
the  inarticulate  cry  of  a  beast  !  The  aroused  mate 
was  on  his  feet  too  late, — one  fatal  moment  too  late, — for 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  329 

with  the  howl  of  a  madman,  the  stranger  plunged  the 
knife  he  had  found,  again  and  again,  into  the  whaler 
as  he  fell,  with  an  oath  upon  his  lips!  The  watchers 
quickly  tore  the  frenzied  assailant  from  his  prey,  and 
Bradford,  with  Raymond,  came  rushing  up  to  aid!— 

"What  is  this?  Who  did  this?"  yelled  Paul,  as  he 
saw  the  mate's  huge  prostrate  frame  quiver  in  the  ap 
proaching  agonies  of  death! 

The  dying  sailor  beckoned  to  Bradford  who  bent  and 
leaned  over  him! — His  eyes  were  already  glazed.  He 
gasped,— 

"  How  did  he  get  away?  I  put  him  on  the  Farallones? 
Who  betrayed  me?  " 

Bradford  was  astonished! — He  looked  at  the  strug 
gling  maniac! — • 

"We  picked  him  up  at  sea,  floating  on  a  log.  Who 
is  he?" 

The  Senator's  man  of  all  work  was  in  a  dream! — 

"  Fool!  That  is  '  French  Pete!'' — the  man  I  stole  away 
from  you!  Ah-h!"  with  a  sickening  leer  of  triumph, 
McMann's  face  relaxed  as  he  fell  back, — dead! — 

Bradford  strode  forward  and  picked  up  the  gravel 
washing  pan  which  the  dead  whaler  had  dropped! — Its 
concave  was  filled  with  grain  gold  and  black  sand  I — 

"Saved  by  a  Madman!  The  island  is  mine  now!" 
cried  Paul  Bradford.  "  The  story  was  true!  "— 

And  only  the  screaming  sea  birds  wailed  the  requiem 
of  the  dead  pirate  of  the  North! — 


330  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

A    SATISFACTORY    SURVEY — AN     ALARMED    STATESMAN  - 
FRENCH  PETE'S  TITLE — "WHO  ARE  THE  OTHERS?" — AN 

ARCTIC  GOLD  PLACER — VERA  ORLOF'S  PROMOTION! 

"HE  SHALL  BE  SAVED!" — THE  PRINCESS  OF 

ALASKA  ON  THE  NEVA — THE  YOUNG 
CHIEF  OF  THE  ORLOFS! 

"  This  it  an  awkward  business,  Bradford!  We  must 
act  at  once!  Those  wild  whaling  boatmen  may  soon 
return  heavily  armed!" 

Raymond  gazed  at  the  stiffening  form  of  McMann. 
The  air  was  vocal  with  the  yells  and  shouts  of  the  infuri 
ated  murderer.  Bradford  spoke,  as  he  turned  from  hid 
ing  the  Russian  iron  pan  with  its  golden  witness  of  the 
mine,  in  a  clump  of  bushes! 

"You  are  right!  There  is  no  law  in  the  Arctic!  Here! 
boys,  drag  this  man's  body  /'//  under  this  vine! — Now,  let 
us  all  cross  to  the  other  side  of  the  island!  Tie  up  that  fel 
low's  arms!  Search  him  first! — Picking  up  the  knife 
with  which  "French  Pete  "  had  revenged  his  own  brutal 
captivity  on  the  Farallones,  Paul  Bradford  closed  up 
the  rear  guard,  with  Raymond! — His  brain  was  in  a 
whirl! — But  his  fears  urged  him  to  action! 

"We  will  build  a  signal  fire,  and  firing  all  our  guns  in 
a  volley,  bring  the  launch  back  at  once  from  the  ship! 
Then,  as  the  Captain  is  the  ranking  United  States'  offi 
cer  here,  he  can  take  all  our  affidavits  and  enter  these 
facts  properly  in  the  ship's  log!  To  prevent  any  revenge 
or  future  fracas,  he  can  order  the  whaler  to  put  to  sea! 
It  was  a  murder  by  pure  accident! — We  will  land  our  own 
whaleboat  with  a  guard  now,  as  I  wish  to  send  the  steamer 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  33* 

at  once  back  to  California,  as  soon  as  I  can  run  off  a  tri- 
angulation  of  the  island!  Now,  take  my  glasses  and 
stay  here  on  the  summit,  Raymond!"  concluded  the  vic 
torious  Bradford. 

"If  you  see  any  boat  approaching  from  the  whaler, 
join  us  at  once,  as  soon  as  they  near  the  island!  I  wish 
to  run  around  there  with  the  launch,  capture  them  and 
properly  explain  the  man's  death!  " 

"All  right,  Bradford,"  answered  Raymond,  coolly. 
"  A  dead  man,  more  or  less,  makes  no  difference!  There 
will  be  many  a  man  killed  here,  before  this  rock  gives  up 
all  its  gold!  It  is  good  luck  to  a  mining  camp  to  have  an 
early  blood  christening!  "- 

In  ten  minutes,  the  steam  launch  crowded  with  anx 
ious  men,  was  seen  swiftly  steaming  down  the  western 
channel  from  the  "Panther,"  which  had  already  fired  a 
gun  in  answer  to  the  beacon  fire  signal! — 

"•Just  in  the  nick  of  time! — Bradford!"  said  Raymond,  as 
he  came  crashing  down  through  the  ravine  where  Fedor 
Orlof's  blood  had  stained  the  moss  in  the  bygone  years, 
as  he  sealed  the  title  of  the  little  Princess  of  Alaska  to 
her  disputed  inheritance,  with  his  life!— 

"There's  a  crew  coming,  from  the  whaler! — The  launch 
can  head  them  off  and  we  can  go  over  the  hill  and  sur- 
round  them  now!"" — 

Bradford  had  vainly  endeavored  to  induce  the  now 
morose  "  French  Pete  "  to  speak! 

"This  fellow  is  a  devil!"  cried  one  of  the  sailors. 
"We  had  to  carry  him  down  through  the  ravine,  and  he 
moaned  and  covered  his  eyes  with  his  hands.  If  you 
don't  watch  him,  he  will  kill  some  one  else!" 

"How  could  have  McMann  so  brutalized  him  as  to 
arouse  such  a  strange  ferocity?"  mused  Paul.  "He 
dragged  him  down,  like  a  famished  tiger!  But  he  is  price- 


I  UK    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

less  here  to  me!  The  secret  of  the  island  is  safe  at  last! 
How  strange  is  Fate!  How  blind  its  decrees!" 

Bradford  watched  the  approaching  launch,  ignorant 
that  Lefranc  had  been  driven  to  a  brain-sickening  mad 
ness  by  recognizing  the  very  glen  where  O/gcfs  lorcr 
ft-//,  in  years  past  under  his  cowardly  hand! 

The  sudden  apparition  of  McMann  drove  the  desper 
ate  wretch,  brutally  maltreated  on  the  lonely  Farallones, 
to  a  madman's  frenzy! 

"  I  must  keep  him  from  running  amok  any  longer! 
The  Senator  shall  know  of  this  at  once!  But  here  is 
the  safest  place  to  keep  him  well  guarded." 

In  an  hour,  the  astonished  whalers  bore  away  their 
dead  commander,  for  McMann  had  sailed  as  their  Cap 
tain  on  this  cruise!  There  was  no  suspicion  lingering 
with  them,  for  near  the  landing  whence  McMann  had 
walked  to  his  death,  were  several  navigating  instruments 
which  the  whaler  had  apparently  landed  to  adjust,  by  the 
charts  and  well  known  headlands!  The  Revenue  cap 
tain  learned  that  their  present  destination  was  the 
Ochotsk  Sea,  and  then,  homeward! 

"It  will  be  months  before  they  will  reach  San  Fran 
cisco! — You  need  have  no  uneasiness  about  this  awkward 
incident!""  said  the  Revenue  commander,  as  the  party 
returned  to  the  "  Panther,''  leaving  ten  men  to  explore 
the  island  and  clear  it  of  any  lurking  wild  beasts. 

"  I  will  run  the  steamer  in  a  half  mile  closer,  and  land 
your  whole  material  and  outfit  to-morrow. — Is  this  the 
very  place  you  sought?  There  are  nests  of  similar 
islands  here." — 

"It  is  the  one  particular  island  which  I  will  make  my 
basevi  operations!  "  said  Bradford,  thinking  of  the  hid 
den  golden  proofs.  The  gold  washer's  pan  remained  in 
its  concealment,  for  the  future  greatness  of  Paul  Brad- 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  333 

ford's  fortunes  now  depended  on  no  smuggled  letters 
reaching  San  Francisco  to  bring  a  horde  of  hungry  pros 
pectors  swarming  north,  before  the  Senator's  land 
patents  were  secured!  "I  will  trust  Raymond  alone,  and 
not  even  to  him  will  I  tell  the  whole  story  of  McMann  and 
'French  Pete!'  "— 

By  the  next  night,  a  substantial  row  of  tents,  with  a 
rough  board  hut  sheltering  the  stores,  appeared  on 
Douglas  Island,  and  a  draft  of  fifty  men  from  the  cutter 
heaved  with  a  will  at  the  piling  up  and  carrying  with 
tarpaulins  of  the  ample  stores  for  six  months. 

"  French  Pete"  languished  in  a  secure  confinement 
on  the  "Panther!"  By  order  of  the  captain,  the  sur 
geon  gave  him  his  especial  attention. 

"This  man  needs  care  and  nourishment! — His  whole 
system  has  received  a  severe  shock  from  past  privation 
and  misery! — But  I  will  attack  his  case  vigorously.  If 
I  find  him  well  enough  in  a  week  to  leave  him  here,  you 
can  nurse  him  up  by  simply  good  food,  stimulants  and 
kind  treatment!  If  you  wish,  I  will  take  him  down  to 
the  Marine  Hospital,  in  San  Francisco,  Mr.  Bradford." 

"Will  he  recover  his  mind,  Doctor?-"  asked  Paul,  care 
lessly  knocking  the  ash  from  his  cigar. 

"Oh!  certainly, — surely!  With  ordinary  care!'1'1  the 
good  surgeon  said. 

"Then,  I  will  give  him  a  good  shelter  up  here,  with 
my  party!"  remarked  Paul.  He  thought,  "He  must 
never  leave  this  island. — His  memory  of  past  transactions 
here  might  be  dangerous!  If  he  had  any  scheming  friends 
and  partners,  they  might  be  dangerous  to  us,  later! — 

Toiling  unceasingly  by  day  at  the  surveys, — and  at 
night  in  the  ship's  cabin  on  his  maps  and  field  work, 
with  fifty  disciplined  men  to  help  in  the  field,  Paul 


334  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALA 

Bradford  completed  his  work  of  the  first  land  location 
under  his  commission,  ///  a  sin^/t-  nn'ck' 

A  specialist  who  had  been  sent  up  by  Herron,  pre 
pared  the  official  maps  and  papers,  in  due  form,  aided 
by  Bradford's  clerk,  who  was  an  accomplished  retainer 
of  the  Senator  sent  secretly  from  Washington. 

"  I  suppose  he  is  here  to  spy  upon  me  in  my  unguarded 
moments!"  bitterly  thought  Bradford,  who  knew  too 
well  that  there  is  not  honor  among  thieves, — high  or  low! 
He  had  proved  it,  to  his  cost,  and  had  been  often  used 
as  a  mere  cat's-paw! 

"But  this  time,  I  am  a  made  man!"  triumphantly 
reflected  Paul,  as  he  sealed  the  last  document,  an  hour 
before  the  revenue  steamer  sailed. 

The  trusted  clerk  was  to  be  bearer  of  the  vitally  prec 
ious  documents,  and  the  mystic  telegraph  could  then 
flash  the  welcome  news  of  the  find,  to  the  august  Senator, 
within  a  week!  Raymond,  the  only  confidant  of  Brad 
ford,  had,  in  secret,  explored  all  the  gold-bearing 
resources  of  the  high  green  island,  now  known  by  its 
chart  name  of  Douglas  Island. 

"It  is  a  princely  treasure,  Bradford!  "  said  the  veteran 
prospector.  "  The  gullies  and  ravines  are  full  of  coarse 
grain  gold  washed  down  in  hundreds  of  years  from  the 
rotted  quartz!  But  the  grand  secret  is  that  the  whole 
island  is  only  one  great  knoll  oi  low  grade  quartz  gold-bearing 
rock!  There  is  no  other  such  mine,  ///  the  world, — Brad 
ford!  "  cried  Raymond.  "See//iere/  A  ship  can  lie 
alongside  of  the  mine  itself! — The  ore  can  then  be 
blasted  off  and  fall  into  the  mills!  There  is  an  enormous 
water  power  over  there!  The  ores  which  would  not  pay 
even  for  hoisting  elsewhere  will  be  profitable  here!  There 
is  no  timbering, — no  drainage, — no////;///;/,^!  Nothing  to 
do  but  to  roll  the  ore  into  the  stamp  mills,  and  then 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

pound  out  the  gold! — The  whole  island  is  a  mass  of  even 
grade  gold  rock!"- 

Raymond  pointed  in  triumph  to  the  sealed  cans  of 
"specimens,"  each  marked  on  a  secret  sketch,  with  the 
ravine  or  gully  where  it  was  found!  "  There  is  nothing 
in  the  world  like  this  wonderful  island!  It  is  worth  a 
king's  ransom!" 

"And  you  shall  not  leave  it  alive,  unless  I  have  the 
Senator's  telegram  of  the  due  legal  entry  of  the  loca 
tions  I  have  mapped  and  made!  When  the  United 
States  government  has  sealed  the  patent,  then,  your  life 
is  safe, — but  not  till  then!  I  alone  must  keep  this  golden 
secret!"  so  mused  Bradford,  his  gray  eyes  aflame  with 
a  greenish  light,  as  he  listened  to  the  expert  miner's 
revelations.-— 

"  This  is  the  time-hoarded  secret  of  the  Arctic  Witch 
of  Gold,  under  the  Northern  Lights!  It  has  been  suspected, 
— divined,  but  you  and  I  alone,  have  broken  the  seal  of 
ages!  I  will  tell  you  a  strange  story  after  the  steamer 
sails!" 

They  stood  alone  on  the  point  where  Fedor  Orlof  had 
leaped  ashore  in  the  happiness  of  his  glowing  hopes! 
They  had,  at  last,  seen  the  "Reindeer,"  with  its  wild 
whalers  fade  from  view,  Jar  out  to  the  west,  and  when  the 
"Panther's"  crew,  now  slowly  turning  up  the  anchor, 
should  guide  the  secret  despatch  boat  southward,  the 
golden  island  would  be  left  in  their  sole  keeping! 

"Don't  get  lonely,  Bradford,  "cried  the  hearty  captain, 
"If  your  clerk  gets  to  Washington  and  back!  on  time, 
with  your  'fresh  instructions,'  in  five  weeks  from  to-day, 
you  will  see  the  old  '  Panther's '  nose  stealing  around 
that  rocky  headland!  I  think  that  you  have  everything 
snug  here  for  a  pleasant  camp!  When  I  bring  up  your 


336  THE    PRINCESS    01'   ALASKA. 

expected  deputy,  you  and  I  will  have  a  royal  cruise  home, 
by  Sitka  and  the  Archipelago!  " 

"You  may  trust  your  poor  Frenchman  to  behave  him 
self  now,  Mr.  Bradford,"  counselled  the  ship's  surgeon, 
as  he  gave  some  simple  directions  to  the  man  who  eyed 
Lefranc's  recovery  with  anxiety.  "He  seems  to  be 
entirely  right  in  his  mind  now, — and  really  quite  an  intel- 
ligent  and  decent  fellow !  Some  poor  wretch  whose  life 
hopes  were  shattered  by  fate  and  has  sought  oblivion, 
safety,  peace  or  restored  fortunes  far  from  his  old  haunts. 
—Believe  me,  he  was  once  a  gentleman!  Try  and  win 
his  confidence! — He  is  certainly  a  curious  ie\\ovi\ " 

"So  he  is!"  answered  Paul.  "I  will  make  a  study  of 
him, — under  the  Senator's  directions!"  he  softly  concluded. 

Bravely  flying  the  flag  of  the  new  rulers,  the  "Panther" 
sailed  away,  hard  pushed,  to  bear  the  welcome  tidings 
to  the  distant  Midas  of  Washington,  whose  claws  reached 
even  to  the  Arctic. 

In  the  five  weeks  of  busy  exploration  and  the  thorough 
examination  of  every  future  resource,  his  heart  beating 
high  at  the  prospect  of  meeting  his  master, and  of  secur 
ing  his  interest  in  the  spoil,  Paul  Bradford  slept  under  the 
northern  lights,  with  the  conscious  rectitude  of  a  man 
who  was  serving  both  his  country  and  himself!  In  long 
walks,  even  with  the  most  wooing  kindness,  he  had 
failed  to  fathom  the  secret  of  "French  Pete's"  past 
history!  The  waif  had  referred  but  once  to  any  San 
Francisco  friends,  and  never  mentioned  the  subject  of 
gold  or  gold  mining.' — Paul  knew  not  that  a  frozen  chill 
of  fear  now  sealed  Lefranc's  lips, — who  now  realized  at 
last  that  he  had  twice  stained  his  hands  with  blood  on  the 
fatal  Golden  Island! 

"I  am  here,  locked  in  their  power!  I  must  dissemble! 
And  once  a^ain,  I  must  escape!"  Lefranc  strained  his 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  337 

eyes  seaward,  but  he  failed  to  realize  the  possession  o/ 
the  mine's  secrets  at  last  by  cool  Bradford,  and  the  wary 
Raymond! — 

Leaping  from  the  whaleboat  lightly  to  the  deck,  when 
the  "Panther's"  gun  called  the  islanders  six  weeks 
later  to  their  oars,  Paul  darted  into  the  commander's 
cabin.  Even  before  he  returned  the  bronzed  sailor's 
greeting,  he  tore  open  an  envelope  in  Herron's  hand 
writing.  It  contained  a  yellow  telegraph  despatch 
which  brought  a  storm  of  joy  to  Bradford's  heart  as  he 
read  the  words: 

"Patents  signed  and  sealed. — Come  down  on  steam 
er. — Leave  Raymond. — You  have  done  nobly. — Full 
detailed  instructions." 

"I  have  a  mass  of  sealed  letters  for  you,  Mr.  Brad 
ford!"  the  captain  cried.  "Let  us  go  down  now  to 
breakfast!"  And  while  they  made  merry;  in  far  off 
Dresden,  the  beautiful  little  Princess  of  Alaska  knew 
not  that  stranger  hands  had  grasped  her  undefended  her 
itage, — the  splendid  prize  for  which  her  lost  father  had 
helplessly  suffered, — and  Fedor  Orlof, — vainly  died! 

The  "Panther"  had  swung  for  two  days  on  the  deep 
green  gulf  of  the  inlet  before  Paul  Bradford  had  finished 
his  final  examination  of  the  despatches  and  concerted 
all  his  measures  for  the  winter  now  closing  in  on  them! 
A  liberal  consignment  of  winter  stores  and  mining  sup 
plies  suitable  for  a  busy  season,  with  a  stout  yawl- 
rigged  long  boat  were  all  landed,  and  prospector  Raymond 
seemed  perfectly  content  to  spend  the  long  dull  winter 
on  the  Island!  A  companion  selected  by  Herron  had 
appeared  in  answer  to  the  tidings  of  discovery  sent 
jointly  to  San  Francisco  by  Bradford  and  his  doubtful 
lieutenant,  Raymond. — The  captain  of  the  Revenue 
Cutter  chafed  to  return,  for  the  floating  ice  cakes  already 


33<S  "IK     I'KINCKSS    DI-     AI.A^K.v. 

hinted  of  huge  fields  to  come,  which  might  choke  the 
only  narrow  inlet  where  the  "  Panther"  could  lay  secure 
from  the  wild  storms  howling  over  the  Behring,  from  the 
far  Ochotsk! — Even  the  last  adventurous  whaler  had 
flitted  southward!  Paul  Bradford  eyed  with  a  quiet 
satisfaction  the  substantial  cabins  of  the  squad  of  twenty 
men,  now  thoroughly  organized  under  Raymond  and 
his  mysterious  associate! 

"What  shall  I  do  with  this  Frenchman,  Raymond!" 
demanded  Paul,  as  he  noted  the  keen  interest  with 
which  Lefranc  watched  the  "  Panther's"  preparations  for 
a  southward  flight  "We  must  watch  him!  He  is  dan 
gerous!" 

The  two  chiefs  sat  together  in  the  solid  office  hut  of 
heavy  logs.  Packed  with  moss  at  the  joints,  and 
sheathed  with  planks  it  would  defy  even  an  Arctic  win 
ter. 

"  You  are  right!  He  has  been  caught  slyly  prospecting 
over  the  island!  That  fellow  is  smarter  than  I  thought!  " 
growled  Raymond.  "  He  has  surely  been  up  here 
before!  I  will  not  lose  him  from  sight,  when  you  sail !  I 
will  keep  him  busied  at  my  side!" 

"That's  right,"  replied  the  exultant  journalist  who 
chafed  to  enjoy  his  sudden  fortune!  "Now,  I  have 
prepared  some  legal  papers,  which  /  wish  him  to  sign, 
and  the  captain  of  the  steamer  will  then  certify  to  them! 
I  wish  to  use  his  name  in  a  dummy  title  to  the  mining 
claims,  in  case  the  land  grant  should  finally  fail!  You 
coax  him  to  do  this.'"  Bradford  handed  over  a  set  of 
papers  prepared  in  due  form. 

"Oh!  I  can  coax  him,  to  anything,  for  a  single  bottle 
of  whisky.  /  hold  the  infallible  cur  el"  laughed  Ray 
mond.  "  But,  look  here,  Bradford,  you  can  tell  the 
Senator  that  I'll  guard  this  man,  with  my  life,  and  the 


THE    PR1XCKSS    OF    ALASKA.  339 

mine  tew,  but  I  want  a  decent  slice  when  the  company  is 
organized!  My  story  might  be  awkward!  For  /  have 
been  up  here  before!  "— 

"  Your — cried  Paul. 

' '  Yes !  2 he  whole  thing  is  an  old  scheme!  I  went  South 
to  fight,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war!  I  had  lived  on  the 
Pacific  coast  for  fifteen  years.  I  came  back  with  the 
commission  of  a  Lieutenant  of  Marines  in  the  Confederate 
States  Navy  in  my  pocket ! ' ' 

"What  did  you  then  come  up  hereto*!"  said  the 
astonished  Bradford. 

"  /  sneaked  up  here,  and  joined  Waddell  on  the  C.  S. 
N.  cruiser  *  Shenandoah  '  at  the  Seal  Islands, — the  Pry- 
biloffs!  That  was  my  secret  duty!  To  warn  him  of  the 
rendezvous  of  the  Yankee  whaling  fleet  which  he  de 
stroyed!  Yes,  sir,  I  saw  thirty-five  whalers  burned  in  the 
Arctic  long  after  Lee  had  surrendered!  Ten  were  burned 
and  sunk,  in  one  group! — I  helped  to  serve  the  last  guns 
fired  under  the  Stars  and  Bars  on  June  28,  1865!  "• 

"You  should  have  been  hung  for  that  pirate  trick!" 
coldly  remarked  Paul. 

"Yes;  but  we  do  not  all  get  our  deserts  in  this  sinful 
world!'"  said  Bradford  drily.  —  "Why  we  even  stopped 
the  whaler  l  Barracouta '  only  two  days  out,  from  San 
Francisco  in  the  middle  of  July!  The  boys  wanted  to 
burn  her  also,  but  the  Commander  got  the  newspapers 
telling  of  the  crash  of  the  Confederacy  from  her,  he  lost 
his  nerve,  and  away  we  coasted  for  Liverpool  after  art 
fully  disguising  our  ship!  When  we  hauled  down  the 
last  rebel  flag,  to  the  'Donegal'  of  Her  Britannic  Maj 
esty's  Navy  at  Liverpool,  I  was  left  there  penniless!  I 
had  sneaked  along  the  coast  from  Sitka  in  a  little  seal 
ing  schooner,  on  my  way  to  the  fur  islands  to  join  the 
daring  (Shenandoah! '  I  had  money,  rum  and  trading  goods 


340  THF     PRIM.TSS    OF    ALASKA. 

all  furnished  by  Southern  sympathizers  at  San  Francisco! 
I  learned,  then,  of  the  gold  deposits  here,  and  located  it 
pretty  nearly,  for  I  gave  the  natives  a  grand  '  pot 
latch!'  "- 

"But  I  was  a  sworn  rebel  spy!  Without  vie,  Waddell 
would  not  hare  destroyed  the  Yankee  fleet!  They  would 
have  been  all  scattered,  and  easily  taken  the  alarm!  I 
could  not  linger  on  my  way! — I  dared  not  come  back  till 
that  piracy  business  was  settled !  Now,  I  want  a  recogni 
tion  here!  In  five  years  from  now,  a  three-hundred-stamp- 
mill  will  be  pounding  away  here  at  this  ten-dollar  gold 
ore!  It  will  not  cost  two  dollars  a  ton  to  work  it! — Now, 
I  know  'old  crafty' — your  Senatorial  friend, — and  he  and 
his  money  backers  are  quietly  stealing  this  title!  I  want 
some  of  the  paid  up  stock! — I  can  afford  to  play  fair! 
The  men  I  brought  up  here  are  all  old  Confederate  sol 
diers!  They  will  stand  by  me!  And  there  are  too  many 
of  us,  to  assassinate! — An  official  investigation  would  be 
ugly! — I  know  the  wily  Senator,  of  old!  When  Herron 
posted  me,  I  left  behind  me,  a  sealed  letter  in  San  Fran 
cisco,  to  be  opened  in  case  of  my  death! — It  would  go  at 
once  to  the  newspapers! — You  know  what  they  can  do!" — 

"Right  well!  "  answered  Bradford,  grimly.  " Trust 
to  me!  I  will  make  the  secret  company  do  what  is  right! 
Get  this  fellow's  signature!  Hold  on  to  him!'" 

11  We  are  partners  now!  You  can  bet  on  me!""  stoutly 
said  Raymond.  "But  tell  the  Senator,  Herron  and 
Tomlinson  to  look  out  for  some  dangerous  San  Fran 
cisco  backers  of  this  French  fool!  That  dead  scoundrel 
McMann  was  also  up  here,  for  no  good! — He  had  either  bul 
lied  or  juggled  this  secret  from  'Frenchy!'  I  see  the  whole 
thing,  now!  He  had  intended  to  make  this  friendless 
man  show  him  the  mine,  and  had  him  kept  covered  up, 
////  he  could  get  a  title!  But  you  were  here  first!  And 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  34! 

'Frenchy'  got  by  accident,  away!  It  is  a  pretty  good 
plan  that  does  not  have  a  break  somewhere!  Watch! — 
every  one!  everywhere! — Even  in  long  years  from  now 
you  may  have  some  trouble!  But  we  will  hold  her  tight, 
— the  gold  island!  The  only  thing  to  fear  is  the  awaken 
ing  of  our  Uncle  Sam  to  the  fact  that  your  whole  land 
survey  is  %.swindle\.Q  get  the  title  to  the  mine — our  mine.'" 
grinned  Raymond. 

"  You  are  right!''1  said  Paul,  in  humble  admiration. 
"  I  wonder  that  you  did  not  get  hung  for  that  fighting  and 
plundering,  after  Lee^s  surrender!" — 

"We  should  have  been  all  hung  as  pirates!"  soberly 
said  Raymond,  "Yet  the  war  ended  queer -ly,  after  all! 
Lee  surrendered  on  April  gth,  1865. — President  Lincoln 
was  murdered  April  i4th,  and  the  Grand  Review  of  the 
Armies  was  held  on  May  22nd  and  23rd. — It  is  true  that 
Johnston  surrendered  April  26th, — but  Dick  Taylor  did  not 
surrender  his  rebel  armies  till  May  4th,  and  General 
E.  Kirby  Smith  surrendered  the  last  forces  only  on  May 
26th!  This  straggling  wind-up  saved  our  necks,  for 
Mosby  did  not  surrender  his  wild  riders  for  another 
month,  and  their  final  pardon  as  outlaws  helped  us!  " — 

"While  the  North  was  already  beating  the  sword  into 
a  plow-share,  General  Slaughter,  on  the  old  Palo  Alto 
battle  ground  in  Texas,  fought  the  last  pitched  battle  of 
the  war,  on  May  I3th,  whipping  Colonel  Barrett  and 
your  blue  coat  Federals  soundly  at  Palmetto  Ranch! 
But  you  see,  before  you,  the  man  who  helped  fire  the  last 
guns  which  thundered  in  war,  under  the  Stars  and  Bars!" 

"Two  days  after  Lee  rode,  broken-hearted,  through 
his  crushed  and  captive  legions,  and  the  shot-riddled 
rebel  battle-flags  were  handed  over  to  the  victorious 
Yankee  hosts,  I  sank  the  whalers  with  Confederate  shot 
and  shell  in  the  far  icy  waters  of  the  silent  Arctic!  Never 


342  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

forget,  Bradford,  on  both  land  and  sea,  that  we  had  the 
last  honors!  The  Southern  moccasin  bit  deep  even  in  its 
dying  agonies!  And  what  should  hare  brouglit  me  to  a 
hatter,  has  led  to  my  fortune!  This  is  a  conspicuous 
reward  of  virtue!" — 

The  preachers  might  make  a  note  here  for  judicious 
Sunday  School  use! — 

"Now  watch  every  avenue!  This  is  no  world  of  fools? 
— I'm  mistaken  if  you  don't  yet  have  to  fight  this  fellow 
McMann's  backers!  Of  course,  the  Russians  are  out  of 
the  struggle  forever!  " 

Paul  Bradford's  heart  was  at  rest  only  when  he  looked 
back  to  see  Douglas  Island  a  mere  green  speck  behind, 
wreathed  in  gray  fog!  As  he  stood  watching  the  yeasty 
foam  flying  from  the  screw,  churning  away  the  green 
rollers,  he  marked  the  shore  birds  at  last  abandoning 
them!  The  ''Panther"  was  heading  straight  for  the 
Golden  Gate!  Even  in  his  hour  of  supreme  success 
Paul  anxiously  thought  of  the  mine's  future! 

' '  A  Senator's  work  may  be  undone  !  Other  Senators 
may  volunteer  to  participate,  as  Raymond  has  done!  This 
would  not  bear  public  investigation!  I  certainly  have 
'French  Pete's  title  in  my  pocket,  made  legal!  He 
had  to  yield  to  Raymond!  It  shall  be  duly  recorded. 
But  who  are  the  others?  " 

Three  weeks  later,  Bradford  listened  with  pride  to  the 
great  Senator's  praise  of  his  acumen.  Around  the  secret 
council  board,  were  the  sharp-eyed  Herron,  smooth 
Eben  Tomlinson  and  three  other  giant  schemers  of  the 
money  mart  of  the  wild  West! — Paul  knew  at  last  every 
detail  of  the  private  organization!  Raymond's  value 
was  also  appropriately  recognized,  for,  strange  to  say, 
a  confidential  agent  of  his,  appeared  to  claim  a  share  of 
the  memorandum  stock  of  this  great  mine!  It  was  re 
gretfully  parcelled  out ! — 


T11K    i'RINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

''There  are  wheels  within  wheels!"  mused  Paul. 
"  This  fellow  now  turning  up,  acted  on  letters  smuggled 
down  on  the  '  Panther! '  Who  was  it  who  spied  on  me  ? 
Who  helped  Raymond?" 

And  the  journalist  recognized  in  the  ex-Confederate 
private  even  an  abler  mind,  a  bolder  soul,  than  his  own!" 

"  But  all  was  well,  at  last,  for  the  jackals  clung  to 
gether  in  a  solid  pack  nibbling  at  this  fat  carcass, — the 
Golden  Island!  Bradford's  share  was  far  more  generous 
than  even  he  had  dared  to  hope! 

< '  We  need  you,  Paul,  to  direct  our  '  literary  bureau, ' 
and  in  all  our  general  operations.  We  are  going  now  to 
keep  judiciously  quiet  and  swing  the  whole  resources  of 
Alaska!  Herron  figures  that  we  are  invincible,  but,  my 
boy,"  said  the  careful  statesman,  "I  am  not  so  sure 
about  the  loophole  in  that  cursed  last  formal  treaty  of 
March  3,  1870!  It  gives  a  color  to  any  old  Russo- Amer 
ican  claims  prior  to  October  18,  1867!  Anything  later 
than  that  is  barred  by  my  grants  and  patents  and  our 
possession!  But  if  the  greedy  Russians  should  unearth 
this  secret,  some  Muscovite  adventurer  might  unload  a 
wagonful  of  papers  at  the  State  Department,  and  make 
a  great  public  clamor !  We  could  not  stand  it ! — You 
know,  I  have  been  a  little  precipitate  in  this  title  of  ours!  " 

The  smug  publicist  smiled! 

"What  would  you  do  in  such  a  case?" — cried  Paul, 
his  golden  eagles  seeming  to  spread  their  wings,  in  sud 
den  flight. 

' 'Oh!  Buy  them  in,  of  course!  There  is  enough  up 
there  for  us  all! — Compromise  is  the  only  course  in  all 
delicate  affairs,  from  stealing  a  realm  like  Alaska,  to 
meeting  a  pouting  beauty's  sudden  raids]  Our  strong 
syndicate  will  be  self-sustaining,  quiet  and  effective!  Soft 
and  easy  goes  far,  you  know! — Raymond  and  his  aid-de- 


344  THE    PRINCESS    <»!     A  I  ASKA. 

camp  will  be  both  trusted  and  watched! — So,  we  will 
probably  now  work  the  island  as  a  placer  mine,  till  we 
have  skimmed  off  enough  to  put  up  a  huge  stamp  mill, 
and  that  will  take  us  several  years,  as  we  wish  the  title 
to  run,  before  investing  a  cool  million  dollars  in  costly 
machinery!  Keeping  all  these  outsiders  away,  though, 
we  can  head  off  any  claimants'  If  /am  not  in  the  Sen 
ate,  <  the  mantle  of  Elijah  will  descend  upon  Elisha!' 
Our  syndicate  is  political,  as  well  as  commercial!  We 
propose  to  perpetuate  our  secret  rule  in  Alaska!  Now, 
my  dear  boy,  your  apparent  journalistic  duties  will  give 
you  an  excuse  for  social  leisure  and  relaxation. — You 
have  well  earned  a  well-deserved  winter  of  enjoyment! 
Be  prudent  in  showing,  in  your  swelling  state,  your  sud 
denly  acquired  fortunes!  Remember  the  wisdom  of  the 
serpent!  Ah!  a  thought  occurs  to  me!"  the  Senator  smiled 
softly,  "you  are  yet  young — impressionable!"  His  voice 
sank  into  a  winning  smoothness  of  personal  reminiscence. 
"Never  trust  a  woman;  if  you  do,  you  will  be  betrayed! 
The  experience  of  Samson,  a  mighty  man  of  war,  with 
the  bright-eyed  daughter  of  the  Philistines  has  been 
extended  and  varied  in  many, — alas!  too  many — modern 
instances! " 

Paul  Bradford,  wandering  along  and  jingling  the 
double  eagles  in  his  pockets,  laughed  heartily  at  the 
Solon  who  had  evidently  intertwined  his  laurels  with  the 
fragrant  myrtle! 

"A  great  statesman!  A  giant  intellect!  A  colossal 
fraud!"  mused  Paul,  waving  his  cigar,  in  parting  salute, 
as  his  patron  and  partner  vanished,  in  stately  guise! 

"And  that  thing  is  a  Senator  of  the  United  States!" 
was  the  finale  of  Bradford's  soliloquy,  as  he  sought  in 
the  dim  recesses  of  "Martin's,"  a  very  raffing  dinner,  at 
which  the  fair  owner  of  a  pair  of  roguish,  sparkling  eyes 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  345 

toasted  her  beloved  Paul  in  drinking  to  the  cruise  of  the 
"Panther!" 

The  Senator's  admonitions  went  the  way  of  all  advice! 
For  Bradford  varied  his  abstinence  to  please  his  own  Deli 
lah,  and  the  Senatorial  warning  was  entirely  forgotten, 
as  lie  drank  the  Wine  of  Life,  with  Love's  sparkling  bub 
bles  breaking  on  the  glass  of  Time!  Bradford's  sad  case 
was  another  illustration  of  well  meant  counsel  gone 
astray! 

It  was  two  years  after  busy  Raymond  and  his  hench 
men  began  to  scoop  up  the  scattered  gold,  drifted  into 
the  hollows  of  Douglas  Island,  when  the  long,  looked- 
for  day  of  Vera  Orlof's  "promotion"  brought  new  life 
to  the  circle  that  vainly  waited  at  Dresden  for  even  one 
word  trom  the  mysterious  prison  place  of  Gregory  Max- 
utoff! 

Though  loyal  Dimitri  Narychkine  had  exhausted  every 
secret  channel  of  information;  though,  at  faithful  Vera's 
bidding,  he  had  used  his  gold,  with  lavish  hand,  it 
seemed  impossible  to  pierce  the  veil  of  secrecy  which 
still  clung  to  Prince  Gregory  Maxutoff's  place  of  exile! 

11  Alas!  Asia  is  a  human  hive,  Vera!  "  wrote  the  lover. 
"We  have  there  fifty  subordinate  principalities,  and  a 
hundred  outpost  camps.  A  secret  creeping  onward  of  our 
merchant  spies,  our  disguised  officers  and  political 
agents  always  precedes  the  roving  Cossacks  who  prick 
up  sudden  quarrels,  thus  fleshing  their  thirsty  lance 
points! — After  them  there  always  travels  an  organized 
force,  then  fort  and  town  finally  fall  into  our  hands!  It  is 
the  great  Propaganda  of  mighty  Peter  and  the  bold-eyed 
Catherine, — twin  imperial  aggressors! — I  do  know,  how 
ever,  that  the  Prince  is  still  alive! — That  he  stoutly 
maintains  his  innocence,  and,  singularly  enough,  that  no 
formal  report  TN\\\\  proofs  has  ever  yet  been  filed  with  the 


j|/)  I  II 1.     1  UP.  ALASKA. 

Department  of  Secret  Justice,  by  Count  Fersen,  or  that 
Tartar  devil,  Prince  Serge  Zubow!  /.ubow  has  not  been 
heard  from  for  a  year!  And  Count  Fersen  holds  the  mat 
ter  tied  up  in  the  Emperor's  private  cabinet!  I  do  not 
believe  that  they  dare  face  Maxutoff,  if  the  matter  can  be 
rightly  called  up!  But  when  I  come,  darling, — to  claim 
you  from  the  Empress,  then,  make  it  your  last  boon  to  beg 
the  noble  Czarina  to  break  the  seals  of  silence,  —  and  to 
have  Gregory  Maxutoff  brought  on  to  Petersburg  for 
trial!" 

It  was  on  his  homeward  journey  to  receive  the  justly 
earned  rank  of  Minister  Resident,  that,  even  in  the  bliss 
of  his  approaching  wedding  to  the  dainty  girl  who  was 
now  to  make,  bv  her  marriage, — Stephan  Orlof,  the 
bright,  brave  lad,  chief  of  his  line,  that  Narychkine  tar 
ried  at  Dresden.'  With  the  aged  Butzow,  he  sought  now 
to  still  cheer  up  the  pallid  White  Rose,  and  to  promise 
her  husband's  restoration  in  due  time! 

"You  will  find  they  must  finally  discharge  him!"  he 
said. 

"I  shall  not  lire  to  see  it,  Dimitri,"  gently  said  the 
one  to  whom  all  hearts  ministered.  "I  will  meet  him, 
only — beyond  the  grave! — I  feel  it!  I  know  it!" 

There  were  tears  in  the  pleading  eyes  of  beautiful 
Countess  Olga,  who  brought  lovely  Irma,  now  the  light 
of  the  darkened  home,  to  her  mother's  side. 

"Ah!  My  child!  Yon  will  see  happier  days,— 
there,  by  the  Neva,  under  the  gracious  Czarina's  care!" 
sighed  Beatrice.  "You  go  to  the  side  of  Russia's  Em 
press!  The  years  will  be  only  an  enchanted  dream  for 
you,  in  the  bright  laughing  circle  of  the  Catherine  Insti 
tute!  And,  darling  one, — you  will  have  Stephan,  for  as 
cadet  page  of  the  Empress,  you  can  always  receive  //////.' 
To  him,  the  guarded  doors  are  ever  open !  And  you  know, 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  347 

my  little  princess  of  Alaska,  /  have  promised  to  come, 
after  your  first  year,  to  kiss  the  gentle  Czarina's  hand, 
and,  ////  then,  Countess  Olga  and  myself,  will  only  have 
the  great  artist's  fame  to  live  on  here!— Arthur  is  our  only 
mainstay  now!  "• 

"My  dear  Princess,  you  must  brush  aside  these  dark 
forebodings!  He  shall  be  saved!  Remember,  I  will  have 
the  Emperor's  confidence! — /  can  aid  you,  when  /  am 
Vera  Orlof's  husband,  when  /  am  a  Russian  Minister"!— 

In  echo  of  this  cheery  voice,  Arthur  Randolph,  his 
dark  eyes  fixed  on  the  gentle  girl  at  his  side,  joined  the 
gallant  and  earnest  Narychkine  in  the  future  promise  of 
brighter  days. 

"I  know  it!  I  feel  it,  that  we  shall  all  meet  again, — in 
the  happy  hour  when  Prince  Gregory  shall  receive  justice, 
pardon,  and  regain  the  Czar's  favor! — As  for  Irma,  the 
very  happiest  day  of  my  life,  will  be  when  she  comes  to 
her  own!  For,  the  moment  when  Prince  Gregory  is  safe, 
I  shall  secretly  return  to  Alaska! — Our  Government  must, 
duly  recognize  these  grants  and  just  claims, — but  first,  we 
are  sworn  to  open  that  prison  door  which  we  can  not  now 
find!  " 

The  years  had  brought  to  Arthur  Randolph  a  just  meed 
of  fame,  and  in  his  secret  heart,  the  artist  whose  name  was 
rising,  star-like,  to  the  zenith,  waited  only  for  the  hour  of 
Irma's  majority  to  speak  words  which  would  bring  the  rosy 
light  of  life's  love-crimsoned  blushes  to  the  gentle  maid 
en's  cheek!  The  path  which  led  her  on  to  an  Empress' 
side,  to  the  bright  scenes  of  her  court  service,  showed  him 
in  his  dreams,  a  fair  young  face,  waiting  for  him,  with 
shining  eyes  of  love! 

"  When  she  has  seen  her  father  freed, — when  she  can 
speak  as  a  woman,  when  the  public  recognition  of  the  Em 
press  has  restored  her  title  and  station,  then — " 

In  his  roseate  dreams,  Arthur  Randolph  nevei  thought  of 


348  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

the  gulf  which  might  separate  an  Empress  favorite  from  a 
simple  artist!  But  his  loyal  heart  told  him  in  every  throb 
of  its  many  life  tide  that  the  unfolding  flower,  the  sweet 
Princess  of  Alaska,  should  be  his  alone!  In  her  cau_e,  he 
would  fight  on  to  the  bitter  end!  For,  even  in  far  off  Dres 
den,  the  rumors  of  the  treasure  trove  at  Golden  Island, 
reached  Randolph,  who  had  secretly  watched  the  course  of 
the  great  syndicate! 

"Irma  shall  have  her  own, — but — nothing  can  be  done 
until  her  majority, — unless,  her  injured  father  can  face  in 
victory!  the  secret  cabal,  who  pulled  him  down,  in  his 
hour  of  pride!" 

Partner  of  these  secret  plans,  the  fair  Countess,  whose 
world-famous  picture  was  the  star  of  the  studio  whereon 
Arthur,  proud-hearted,  followed  the  star  of  his  rising  fame, 
the  grateful  sister  of  the  heart,  Olga  Orlof,  cheered  that 
hour  when  Irma  and  Stephan  were  both  conducted  to  St. 
Petersburg  by  Dimitri  Narychkine. 

It  was  in  their  quiet  home  seclusion,  that  the  three  friends 
marvelled  over  the  stately  festivities  of  the  splendid  nuptials 
which  joined  the  great  houses  of  Narychkine  and  Orlof ! 
The  Maid  of  Honor  was  a  happy  bride,  the  fairest 
of  the  fair!  Vera  Orlof  was  now  hailed  as  the  most  for 
tunate  of  all  the  patrician  Maids  of  Honor  of  the  Empress! 
Two  weeks  after  the  wedding,  which  was  graced  by  the 
august  mistress  whose  merry  favorite  was  now  a  personage 
of  state,  with  a  strange  new  light  on  her  brow,  Countess 
Olga  flashed  into  Arthur's  studio, — a  vision  of  happy,  glow 
ing  beauty! 

"  You  have  good  news!  "  cried  Randolph,  as  he  sprang  up 
at  the  sight  of  the  beautiful  Countess! — 

"I  came  to  you,  at  once,  Arthur!  I  dared  not  breathe  a 
word  to  Beatrice,  lest  there  may  be  another  cross  of  Fate 
in  store!  But  listen! !" 

With  her  voice  thrilling  with  eager  happiness,  Olga  Orlof 
read  the  words  of  the  spirited  Vem  ; 


THE    PRINCESS  .OF    ALASKA.  34Q 

"  This  first,  the  very  first  letter,  since  our  return 
from  Tsarskoe  Zeloe, — is  to  tell  you  that  Dimitri  has  been 
named  Minis  ter  to  Greece  It  will  not  be  gazetted  for  some 
weeks,  but  the  C/ar  received  us  most  graciously,  and  I  am 
the  very  happiest  woman  in  Russia! — I  went,  at  once,  to  see 
your  Irma,  who  is  already  the  favorite  of  the  good  Czarina! 
And  to  you,  beloved  Olga,  I  can  say  that  little  Stephan 
looks  every  inch  an  Orlof,  in  his  dainty  cadet  uniform! — 
He  bids  to  be  as  handsome  as  my  Uncle  Fedor!" 

The  filmy  sheet  trembled  in  Olga's  hands.  Arthur  knew 
that  her  mind  was  far  away  where  the  husband  of  her  heart 
was  still  sleeping  in  exile!  In  a  broken  voice  she  resumed: 

"  I  am  on  the  eve  of  a  last  masterstroke  in  the  matter  of 
Prince  Gregory, — and  Dimitri  bids  me  to  urge  you  to  keep 
everything  from  Beatrice  till  we  have  gained  the  final  vic 
tory!  Life  is  a  strange  mystery!  When  I  had  joined  the 
Empress  alone,  after  ze/^had  both  been  presented  to  receive 
from  the  Imperial  Consorts  the  news  of  Dimitri's  appoint 
ment,  I  was  made  bold  by  my  great  happiness!  I  threw 
myself  at  the  feet  of  the  Empress,  and  begged  her  to  re 
member  the  four  years  of  darling  Beatrice  Maxutoff's 
agony  of  suspense!  I  was  headlong  and  successful,  in  my 
pleading,  for  as  we  left  the  Czar,  the  master  of  ceremonies 
ushered  in  Count  Fersen,  still  riding  on  the  wave  of  his 
master's  favor!" 

"I  spoke  of  that  often-demanded  report,  which  never 
yet  has  arrived, — of  the  delayed  trial,  which  may  be  cut 
off  at  any  time  by  poor  Maxutoff's  death!  When  I  had 
finished,  the  Empress,  in  the  boudoir,  communed  a  half 
hour  with  the  Czar,  who  then,  recalled  Count  Fersen! 
This  I  learned  from  Milutin,  who,  as  Captain  of  the 
Probajenskys,  was  Palace  Guard  Officer  of  the  Day!  My 
dear  and  honored  guardian  Empress  returned,  and  startled 
me,  when  she  said  in  a  gentle  voice:  '  Vera!  I  hope  you 
may  always  render  us  such  loyal  service!  //  is  monstrous! 


350  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

I  learned  from  the  truth,  at  last  forced  out  of  Count  Fersen 
by  the  Emperor's  direct  question,  that  Prince  Serge  Zubow 
sailed  for  Khamschatka  from  Vladivostock,  last  year,  and 
only  the  fragments  of  his  wrecked  vessel,  dashed  to  pieces 
on  Cape  Lopatka,  have  ever  been  found!  He  was  drowned 
with  all  his  crew!  No  new  commission  has  been  ap 
pointed!  But  the  Emperor  has  now  ordered  Fersen  to 
submit  a  summary  report,  with  proofs,  to  him  personally 
within  a  month,  and  has  ordered  Prince  Maxutoff  here  for 
trial!  It  will  be  a  secret  investigation! ' 

"  Fersen  was  dismayed  at  the  Czar's  positive  orders,  the 
Empress  told  me,  and  stammered:  'Sire!  I  know  nothing, 
/';/  person,  of  these  alleged  misdeeds, — for  /  was  in  St. 
Petersburg  when  tliey  occurred!  '  The  Czar  was  greatly 
incensed,  and  bluntly  said:  tThen  a  grievous  wrong  has 
been  done!  And  I  will  have  Gregory  Maxutoff  brought 
at  once  back  here!  If  you  can  not  criminate  him,  I  will 
make  a  public  restitution,—  for  there  seems  to  be  even 
nothing  to  pardon!  Why  was  this  man  Zubow's  death  con 
cealed  from  me?  '  " 

"  So,  dearest  Olga,  if  this  blessing  of  God  comes  to  us  at 
last,  you  may  soon  have  good  news!  Dimitri  will  have  two 
months  to  wait  here  and  receive  instructions!  He  will 
watch  this  favorable  opening  like  a  lynx! — And  I  only  fear 
that  the  secret  of  Prince  MaxutofTs  downfall  may  have 
died,  with  this  wretch,  Zubow!  Can  it  be  that  Count  Fer 
sen  fears  the  Czar's  anger,  now?  Ah!  my  God!  What  can 
replace  the  blasted  years  of  poor  Beatrice's  sad  life! — The 
innocent  Prince,  loaded  with  infamy,  and  bearing  this 
injustice  alone,  lingers  far  away,  in  those  burning  Asian 
sands!  How  many  aching  hearts  are  thrilled,  when  the 
prisoner's  pale  lips  murmur:  *  If  the  Czar  only  knew! '  I 
wait  with  bated  breath  for  any  good  news,  and  you,  now 
hold  Beatrice  Maxutoff's  very  life  /;/  your  own  dear  hands! 
She  must  never  know  until  we  can  say  to  her:  'The  long 


THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA.  351 

night  of  sorrow  is  past!     Gregory  is  free!    He  is  proved 

innocent!  ' " 

And  together,  Arthur  Randolph  and  the  fair  woman  with 
the  steadfast  heart  of  grateful  love,  thanked  God  that  there 
was  a  rift  in  the  clouds,  at  last!  Arthur  Randolph  gazed 
with  moistened  eyes  at  the  sweet  face  of  his  secretly  loved 
Irma  Maxutoff! — His  voice  trembled  as  he  fondly  said. 
"  May  God's  grace  give  back  her  father  to  our  little  Prin 
cess  of  Alaska!"  "Amen!"  fell  from  the  lips  of  gentle 
Olga  Orlof! 


352  TIIK    !'K1\<  I.SS    OF    ALASKA. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

ZUBOW'S  CRUISE  IN  THE  KURILES! — LIGHT  AT  LAST! — "HAST 
EN  WITH  THE  PARDON!  " — A  BELEAGURED  CAMP — THE 

CZAR'S  MESSENGER — LOVfc'S  CROWN  OF  SOR 
ROWS ! — FAITHFUL  TO  THE  LAST! — THE 
SEAL  OF  INNOCENCE — TOO  LATE? 

Two  weeks  after  Vera  Narychkine's  exciting  letter,  the 
venerable  Baron  Butzow  hobbled  into  the  drawing-room 
where  the  Maxutoff  family  circle  awaited  the  butler's  sum 
mons  to  dinner. — There  was  that,  in  his  face,  which  caused 
the  watchful  Countess  Olga  to  signal  Arthur  Randolph  to 
lead  Princess  Beatrice  to  the  table. — Another  eddy  in  life's 
strange  current! 

"  Only  a  moment!  On  your  private  business!  "  said  the 
veteran  diplomat.  He  was  an  adept  at  these  short  turns 
of  life! — When  they  were  alone  the  Baron  offered  a  blue 
telegraph  strip.  "The  train  d'express  passes  at  eleven 
o'clock.  You  have  still  time!  //  is  from  Vcral  You  must 
go!  " 

Olga  Orlof  gasped  as  she  said:  "  To  Petersburg?"  and 
her  eyes  read  the  fateful  message:  "  Report  filed.  Dimitri 
has  made  discoveries.  //  must  be  met!  Come  at  once. 
Bring  Arthur!  Victory  in  sight!  " 

The  paper  tape  fell  from  her  hands.  "  I  fca,  this  ordeal!" 
she  shuddered. 

*'  My  dear  child,"  gravely  said  Butzow,  "  with  the  Nary 
chkine's  influence  and  this  brute  Zubow's  lips  sealed  in 
death,  you  can  boldly  face  Count  Fersen!  He  has  his  own 
future  at  stake  now.  You  do  not  know  Dimitri. — He  is 
very  able. — A  very  Greek  in  his  adroitness!  Now,  is  your 
time!  While  Vera  is  in  her  daily  association  with  the 
Empress!  You  have  a  very  natural  excuse  for  your  voy- 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  353 

age,  to  visit  your  son. — It  is  for  the  sake  of  Beatrice! 
Make  this  supreme  effort!  Think  of  the  little  Princess 
of  Alaska!  Alone  in  the  world!  For  her  mother  is,  even 
now,  but  a  graceful  shade!" 

"  Shall  /make  your  travel  arrangements?  W/7/ Arthur 
go  on  with  you?  "  The  old  noble's  eyes  shone  in  entreaty. — 

"  I  willface  the  past  once  more,"  Olga  slowly  said.  "  I 
must  conquer  the  pledged  resolutions  of  my  bitter  widow 
hood. — The  days  at  Baranoff,  when  I  was  friendless  and 
alone,  must  never  be  forgotten!  And  as  you  say,  dear 
Baron,  I  must  be  a  real  mother  to  Irma  soon! " 

For  the  prophetic  lights  of  another  world  shone  out  in 
Beatrice  Maxutoff  s  brow.  It  was,  day  by  day,  more  sadly 
plain  to  all,  that  the  returning  wave  was  gentler,— faint ert 
that  the  current  of  her  being,  broke  softly  on  the  farther 
shore! 

"  I  will  send  Arthur  at  once  to  you, — /  can  explain  to 
Beatrice  that  a  formal  legal  conference  is  necessary  for 
Stephan's  rights  and  future  before  the  Narychkines  go  to 
Athens.  Thus,  she  can  not  be  mentally  disturbed  until  we 
have  passed — 'through  night  to  light' — and  I  will  come 
here  with  my  Anna  Ivanowna  and  guard  this  dear  helpless 
one  till  you  return,"  said  the  hearty  Baron,  now  over 
joyed. 

"Always  the  same  dear,  loyal  old  kinsman!  "  murmured 
Olga,  with  shining  eyes,  as  she  joined  the  now  anxious 
Beatrice. 

When,  at  their  parting,  the  White  Rose  threw  her  arms 
around  the  beautiful,  resolute  Countess,  her  tremulous 
whisper  told  Olga  that  the  gentle  deceit  availed  not  against 
the  second  sight  of  sorrow! — "  Let  me  know  the  whole 
truth  as  soon  as  you  can,  dearest!  All  that  I  may  hope! 
There  is  nothing  left  to  fear  now!  " 

Soft  as  the  falling  dews  of  night,  that  gentle  voice  of 
innocence  touched  Olga's  very  inmost  heart.  In  silence 


354  '  '"     PRINCESS    "i      ALASKA. 

she  drew  the  watcher  to  her  throbbing  bosom,  and  mur 
mured:    "  Our  only  trust  is  in  the  good  Czarina!  " 

When  Countess  Olga  Orlof  swept  at  last  across  the 
threshold  of  the  great  granite  family  keep,  on  the  Nevsky, 
her  heart  beat  wildly  with  memories  of  the  olden  time.  At 
her  side,  Arthur  Randolph  stood  wondering  at  the  luxuri 
ance  of  Asiatic  spoil  which  decked  the  mighty  entrance 
hall. — With  exquisite  delicacy,  Vera  Narychkine's  instant 
welcome  gave  the  widowed  Countess  not  a  moment  to  cast 
a  glance  at  the  spot  where  on  the  huge  tiger  skins,  Stephan, 
the  old  Boyar,  had  gasped  and  died  in  the  years  long  gone 
by. 

There  was  a  waiting  circle  at  the  princely  table,  of  the 
bright- faced  women  Court  comrades  of  the  most  charming 
ambassadress  in  the  Czar's  service. — 

While  Arthur  Randolph,  led  by  the  courteous  Dimitri, 
inspected  later  the  treasures  of  the  old  feudal  mansion, 
Olga  felt  herself,/*?;-  the  first  time,  an  Orlof,  in  very  truth. 
— There  was  a  spirit  of  sisterhood  in  the  graceful  women 
who  clustered  round  her,  which  breathed  a  welcome  from 
loving  hearts  touched  with  her  sad  story. 

— In  the  grand  hall  of  state,  Vera  Narychkine  paused 
before    a    rich    velvet   curtain.      There   were    eagerly    ex 
changed  glances,  as  drawing  the  cord,  the  hostess    said 
with  gentle  pride  to   her  guests:    "My  Uncle  Fedor!     The 
ideal  guardsman!  " 

When  through  the  mist  of  happy  tears,  Olga  could  turn  her 
eyes  from  her  own  beloved  Fedor's  face,  she  sprang  forward 
in  delight,  and  turned  to  seek  the  artist  Arthur. — But  the 
worker  of  the  magic  had  flown! — Beside  the  other,  was  an 
exquisite  picture  of  the  spirited  little  chief  of  the  great 
clan,  in  his  imperial  page  dress. — The  secret  of  Randolph's 
exclusion  of  his  beloved  chatelaine  for  a  month,  from  the 
studio,  was  now  told  in  the  laughing  pictured  face  of  the 
gallant  boy! 


PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  355 

"To-morrow  you  will  go  to  him!  and  to  our  Irma!  But 
to-night,  you  belong  to  me!  "  As  the  brilliant  circle  left  the 
grand  hall,  the  strains  of  solemn  music  were  heard.  They 
seemed  to  hover  near  as  if  chanted  by  spirit  voices 
in  the  air.  "  Our  private  chapel  /"  gently  remarked  Vera 
Narychkine,  and  her  companion  knew  intuitively  that  the 
great  library  where  the  drama  of  Fedor's  life  reached  its 
impressive  tragedy,  was  hallowed  in  God's  service  by  the 
memory  of  the  grand  old  Boyar  wJio  had  so  sadly  died  there! — 

The  great  Orlof  house  was  all  silent,  when,  in  Vera's 
boudoir,  the  two  men  joined  the  anxious  allies  of  distant 
Beatrice. — The  servants  had  departed,  and  in  a  low  voice, 
Dimitri  Narychkine  told  the  story  of  the  present  state  of 
MaxutofPs  case. 

"My  friends!"  the  young  Minister  began,  "  our  action 
must  be  vigorous,  immediate,  and  yet  without  a  trace  of 
resentment  against  Count  Fersen!  After  the  gracious 
Czarina  has  exerted  her  whole  influence  to  right  poor 
Gregory  MaxutofPs  wrongs, — the  Czar  alone  can  decide! — 
I  have  watched  the  Interior  Department  like  a  lynx  since 
the  order  for  the  special  report  was  given  to  Fersen!  As  it 
was  marked  for  the  Czar's  personal  attention  alone,  I 
learned  that  the  report,  handed  iri  a  week  ago,  had  been 
stamped  and  sealed,  for  the  Privy  Council,  duly  receipted 
for  and  numbered,  and  it  fell  to  my  Cousin  Boris,  who  is  a 
Private  Chamberlain  and  Extraordinary  Counsellor  of 
State  to  open  it,  docket  it  and//#r<f  it  in  the  Portfolio  of  the 
Emperor,  reserved  for  his  personal  use! 

"Warned  by  me,  Boris  memorized  it!  For  his  life,  he 
dared  not  copy  a  single  word!  Fersen  now  disclaims  all 
knowledge  of  any  personal  corruption  on  Governor  Gen 
eral  Maxutoff's  part.  In  fact,  he  frankly  states  that  he  had 
just  approved  the  accounts  of  the  Alaskan  regime  of  the 
accused!  He  refers  impartially  to  the  total  loss  of  the 
archives  when  the  fur  ships  were  wrecked,  and  then  rests 


'  "i.   PfttMCtSS  ftf  ALASKA. 

his  final  charges  on  the  negligence  of  Gregory  MaxutofT, 
and  his  flat  disobedience  of  orders  in  not  sending  an 
escorting  frigate  with  the  fur  ships,  duly  placing  naval 
officers,  in  charge  of  each,  and  a  guard  on  board!  This 
positive  disobedience  of  orders,  he  alleges  to  have  been  the 
primal  cause  of  their  total  loss!  One  cargo  being  wrecked 
on  the  Kuriles,  then  the  other  was  made  way  with  by  irre~ 
sponsible  citizens  on  board!  The  death  of  Zubow,  who 
would  have  been  able  to  sustain  the  other  charges  is  refer 
red  to,  and  also  the  unfortunate  demise  of  the  Russian 
Consul  who  forwarded  the  delayed  secret  instructions  to 
Prince  Maxutoff,  by  order  of  the  Minister  at  Washington! 
This  is  all  that  we  have  to  meet, — and  the  Czar  may  call  it 
up  on  any  day  now! — It  is  a  mercy  of  God  that  you, 
Countess  Olga  and  Randolph,  were  both  at  Sitka,  and  that 
you  can  swear  to  the  facts  that  the  fur  ships  left  before 
the  war  vessel  '  Rurik '  arrived,  with  the  vital  delayed 
instructions!  " 

"Certainly!"  cried  the  pilgrims  from  Sitka.  "Our 
returning  steamer  exchanged  signals  with  the  *  Rurik ' 
leisurely  moving  north  but  only  near  San  Francisco!  The 
fleet  had  already  gone,  as  Sitka  Harbor  was  overcrowded, 
and  the  populace  going  home  were  anxious  to  be  transfer 
red  to  Russia!  The  fur  ships  really  left,  at  once,  on  our 
departure!  And  it  was  Captain  Linieff,  of  this  delayed 
vessel,  the  '  Rurik,'  who  took  Prince  Maxutoff  later  over  to 
th:  mouth  of  the  Amur!  " 

"  We  are  then  saved!  Please  God,  Prince  Gregory  shall 
stand  before  the  Czar  yet,  in  honor!  "  Dimitri  grasped 
Countess  Olga's  hands  in  joy,  "Listen!  I  have  been  in 
telegraphic  communication  with  the  Secretary  of  Legation 
at  Athens,  and  I  look  over  all  the  despatches  at  the  Foreign 
Office  daily!  Two  days  after  Vera  told  me  of  the  Czar's 
order,  I  noted  the  arrival  of  the  '  Rurik,'  under  Captain 
Linieff,  at  Athens,  bound  for  Sevastopol  and  the  Crimea,  to 


THK    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  357 

refit  it  there  after  a  long  Arctic  service!  I  wrote  to  Linieff, 
who  is  to  come  here  at  once  for  his  presentation  on  his 
new  rank  of  Commodore,  and  I  gave  him  the  whole  facts 
of  this  mysterious  trouble!  Gallant  fellow!  He  telegraphed 
back  to  me  at  once!  '  I  took  the  orders  up  long  after  the 
fleet  and  ships  had  sailed.  Have  a  man  on  my  ship  now, 
who  was  with  Zubow  on  the  Kuriles!  Most  important.  Am 
coming  to  the  capital  at  once.  Search  despatch  books. 
Foreign  Office.'  This  closes  our  proof  of  Gregory's 
innocence. 

"  Acting  on  this  hint,  I  got  an  order  to  be  allowed  to 
look  over  the  Washington  despatches,  and  the  returned  San 
Francisco  Consulate  Records!  There,  in  due  order,  I  find 
that  the  Minister  at  Washington  positively  ordered  the 
despatches  to  be  sent  to  Maxutoff  by  Captain  Linieff.  He 
states  that  « The  'Rurik'  is  the  swiftest  of  the  fleet!'— 
Now  I  have  found  an  ordinary  Consular  despatch  from 
San  Francisco,  to  the  Minister  at  Washington,  saying: 
'  The  heavy  supplies  for  the  Amur  are  at  last  on  the 
'Rurik.'  I  have  detained  her  here,  as  she  is  the  last  ship 
of  the  year.' — This  fixes  the  responsibility!  " 

"  It  is  clear  that,  as  the  fleet  sailed  five  weeks  before  the 
'  Rurik  '  left  San  Francisco,  Prince  Maxutoff  could  not  have 
received  these  orders!  The  trouble  seems  to  have  been 
that  after  they  were  forwarded  by  Imperial  despatch- bearer 
with  the  Legation  bags  to  Washington,  and  endorsed  ' per 
Rurik]  they  lay  for  weeks  in  the  hands  of  the  Chancellor  of 
the  Consulate  at  San  Francisco.  Linieff  alone  can  say  w/io 
gave  them  into  his  hands  and  with  what  orders!  On  ////>, 
the  whole  case  will  lurn!  He  will  be  here  at  daybreak!" 

"Prince  Narychkine!"  cried  Randolph,  a  light  breaking 
in  on  his  brain,  at  last,  "Zubow  was  at  San  Francisco,  and 
later  at  Victoria,  and  came  in  at  Sitka  on  the  '  Nevsky  ' 
beforefae.  frigate  '  Rurik.'  I  have  heard  the  late  Consul  at 
San  Francisco  always  spoken  of  as  an  able  and  singularly  hon- 

23 


358  I  "I.    i'K;\   ifiSS    »K   ALASKA. 

est  man,  personally !  The  bribing  of  the  Chancellor  to  delay 
the  stores,  hold  the  despatches,  and  thus  enable  Zubow  and 
Fersen  to  ruin  Maxutoff  was  probably  the  Tartar  s  work! 
The  Consul  was  tricked,  the  Czar  robbed, — and  our  poor 
friend  Gregory,  utterly  ruined!  " 

Olga,  beautiful  Olga,  clasped  Vera  to  her  breast.  The 
story  of  the  past  was  bitterly  sad! 

"And  it  was  for  me,  for  my  little  Stephan,  that  the  Gov 
ernor  General  quarreled  with  that  fiend  Zubow!  And  also 
to  save  your  Uncle  Fedor, — my  husband,  from  the  lash!  Ah! 
Fatal  happiness  of  that  fleeting  year!  Is  it  thus  a  merciful 
God  rewards  the  noble  protector  of  the  helpless?  " 

"  Wait,  Olga!  "  the  flashing-eyed  Vera  cried,  "  our  Czar 
is  just!  He  can  pardon!  The  Empress  too  will  urge  our 
suit!  But  how  shall  we  hasten  the  pardon?  " 

"  Go,  darling,  to  the  Palace  to-morrow,  with  Olga  and 
Arthur!  He  can  wait  in  the  great  ante-chamber  I  know 
that  the  Empress  will  send  at  once  for  our  Sitka  proofs!  I 
will  watch  every  moment  of  the  Czar's  morning,  and  Boris 
shall  offer  him  the  Fersen  report,  with  the  remark  that 
Commodore  Linieff  (in  waiting)  begs  an  audience  to  say 
that  he  can  prove  the  Governor's  innocence! — /  will  bring 
Linieff  up  to  the  Winter  Palace,  and  not  leave  him  till  the 
Empress  has  told  the  Czar  all  truth!  " 

They  parted  in  hopefulness  to  await  the  issue  of  the 
day  of  days  for  the  lonely  prisoner  in  the  burning  Asian 
deserts!- 

Olga  Orlof  was  as  beautiful  and  stately  as  a  marble 
queen  when  she  entered  with  beating  heart,  when  the  day 
of  trial  wore  on,  the  Winter  Palace,  led  by  Vera 
Narychkine,  whose  innate  bravery  was  but  a  trust 
in  her  gracious  Empress!  The  weird  dreams  of  her 
first  night  in  the  Orlof  mansion  left  Countess  Olga  as 
pale  and  worn  as  a  watcher  at  the  tomb!  In  her  glorious 
sapphire  eyes  trembled  the  reflection  of  tears,  shed  in  bit- 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  359 

ter  sorrow,  for  the  living  who  bore  the  burden  of  ignominy 
for  her  sake,  and  for  the  dead  who  lost  his  life  for  the  fleet 
ing  joys  of  her  heart  love!  And  yet,  sad  as  the  past  was, 
shadowed  with  sorrows,  before  her  rose  the  rosy  face 
of  the  robust  little  heir  of  the  Orlofs,  and  the  virginal  sweet 
ness  of  the  gentle  Princess  of  Alaska,  whose  sorrows  were 
swept  away  in  the  lovely  circle  of  the  patrician  maids  of 
the  Catherine  Institute!  "  Life  offers  to  them  nowite  crown 
of  roses  and  thorns! — Its  cup  of  gall  and  honey!  "  It  was 
with  a  prayer  for  these  bright  young  loved  ones,  in  all  the 
splendid  promise  of  their  youth,  that  the  dethroned  singer, 
the  convict's  widow,  a  Countess,  by  the  waywardness  of  Fate, 
passed  into  the  Imperial  presence! 

Vera  whispered:  "Be  brave  now!— for  Linieff  and  Dimitri 
are  already  in  audience!"" 

When  an  hour  later  the  re-united  friends  sought  the  shelter 
of  their  stately  home,  bronzed  and  joyous,  with  a  ring  of 
triumph  in  his  voice,  Commodore  Linieff  pointed  to  the 
cross  the  Emperor  had  taken  from  his  own  breast!— — 

'•For  loyalty  to  the  truth!  For  gallant  service!  For 
unearthing  the  villainy  of  this  dead  fellow  Zubowl  He 
seems  to  have  imposed  on  my  delegate  Count  Fersen,  Com 
modore,  as  well  as  upon  myself!  " 

The  telegraph  was  already  invoked  to  speed  along  from 
Astrakhan  the  full  pardon  of  the  Emperor! 

"I  shall  send  an  Imperial  Courier  to  Madame  Maxutoff, 
at  Dresden,  to  receive  such  letters  and  greetings  as  she 
may  wish  to  send  to  her  injured  husband!  He  is  at  the 
Headquarters  of  the  Expeditionary  Force  at  Khokan!  I 
shall  receive  Prince  Gregory  Maxutoff  in  a  special  audience 
upon  his  arrival,  and  I  will  try  to  repair  the  past!  He  shall 
serve  me  long  in  honor,  in  happier  days!  To  you,  Narych- 
kine,  I  speak  with  pride  as  the  son  of  one  of  my  brother 
officers  in  the  Guards!  Your  gallant  father  drew  his  sword 
with  me  for  Russia,  in  the  Caucasus!  " • 


360  1  Ml     PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

With  these  ringing  words,  the  autocrat  of  all  the  Russias 
dismissed  the  supplicants. 

"I  shall  have  the  crews  of  the  two  vessels  searched  out, 
and  all  returned  to  Sevastopol!  There,  I  shall  order  an 
official  inquest  to  search  out  every  corner  of  this  great  vil 
lainy!  The  Minister  of  the  Interior  and  of  Foreign  AfTairs 
shall  make  a  special  report,  for  it  seems  that  Count  Fersen 
has  been  s\stematically  hoodwinked!  " 

The  Czar's  face  was  very  stern  as  he  directed  his  secre 
tary  to  summon  Count  Fersen  tor  personal  explanations. — 

Around  the  table  in  the  grand  banqueting  hall  of  the 
Orlof's,  the  circle  of  the  evening  was  the  happiest  on  the 
Neva. — For  Arthur  Randolph,  it  was  the  gateway  of  a 
lover's  heaven!  The  sturdy  little  chief  of  the  Orlofs  sat  in 
state  between  the  dainty  Ambassadress  and  Countess  Olga! 
The  personal  command  of  the  Czarina  to  Madame  Maxu- 
toff  to  rejoin  her  husband  on  his  arrival  would  break  up 
the  dream  which  made  Randolph  oblivious  to  even  the 
hard- ivon  pardon. — For,  in  the  delicate,  dreamy  eyes  of  the 
little  Princess  of  Alaska,  there  was  a  light  new  to  the  artist, 
who  had  seen  the  flower  of  her  being  slowly  unfold,  at  his 
side.  Frankly  cordial,  her  heart  thrilled  with  the  happiness 
of  her  noble  father's  regained  freedom,  her  eyes  dropped 
shyly,  and  the  blushes  of  her  cheek  betrayed  the  sweet 
consciousness  of  the  awakening  of  life's  spring!  The 
lonely  girl  drinking  in  the  artistic  spirit  of  her  companion 
of  years,  had  learned,  with  a  sudden  start  of  self -consciousness, 
that  an  invisible  Ariel  with  magic  wand  had  kept  them  long 
tenderly  apart!  Dimitri  Narychkine  was  diligently  unravel 
ling  the  meshes  of  the  intrigues  of  the  past  with  Commo 
dore  LiniefT,  while  Olga  and  Vera  planned  for  the  future 
reception  of  Beatrice  Maxutoff. 

"  I  dare  not  be  absent  longer  from  her,  lest  the  flood  of 
this  sudden  good  fortune  overwhelms  her.  We  will  go 
back  to  Dresden  to-morrow,  Arthur,"  said  the  Countess, 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  361 

"  So  soon?  "  cried  Irma,  with  one  glance  at  Arthur  which 
revealed  the  loving  heart  beating  fondly  behind  the 
bosom's  jealous  concealment. 

"Only  to  quickly  return,  my  Princess! ''  gaily  answered 
Arthur,  "for  we  will  #//be  here  at  the  home- coining  fA  your 
father!  I  must  understand  fully  the  secret  of  the  missing 
fur  cargoes,  for  even  Beatrice  will  be  eager  to  know  of  the 
methods  of  this  villiainy." 

"It  is  simple  enough!"  answered  the  ,  Commodore. 
"  Zubow  had  creatures  of  his  own  on  each  vessel. — Under 
pretense  of  repairs,  the  first  vessel  put  in  at  the  lonely 
Kurile  Island,  where  the  '  Nevsky  '  lay  in  waiting. — The 
first  cargo  was  secretly  discharged  and,  in  junks,  taken  to 
Japan,  whence  it  safely  reached  Europe  later  in  the 
thieves' hands.  Sailing  in  company,  apparently  for  Nagas 
aki,  the  first  vessel  was  run  ashore  designedly,  and  Zubow 
took  off  the  crew!  The  merchant  officers  received  their 
share  of  the  spoil,  in  kind, — the  men  were  simply  drafted 
into  Zubow's  service,  and  he  took  good  care  to  leave  them 
later  in  Khamschatka  whence  they  could  not  depart  without 
a  home  passport  which  he  denied  on  varied  pretexts! 

*'  Standing  boldly  down  the  Pacific,  the  other  vessel, 
moored  in  Esquimalt  Harbor,  was  unloaded,  and  the  richest 
cargo  ever  sent  to  Europe  was  trans-shipped  through  Amer 
ica!  It  was  a  propitious  time,  for  the  Russian  squadron  never 
entered  an  English  port,  and  there  was  no  Muscovite  official 
left  in  Alaska  after  the  Governor's  departure!  The  only 
war  vessel  left  in  the  North  Pacific,  the  '  Rurik,'  was  on  its 
way  to  the  Amur,  and  the  Russian  Asiatic  squadron  had 
wintered  in  South  Japan.  It  is  clear  that  fear  alone  kept 
the  officers  and  men  who  finally  traced  out  Prince  Zubow's 
villainy,  silenty  for  he  enjoyed  the  dignity  of  Governor  of 
Khamschatka,  and  none  of  these  awkward  witnesses  could 
leave  the  peninsula  to  which  he  had  sailed  with  his  own, 
and  the  stolen  vessel. — Not  a  soul  on  the  Pacific  ever 


362  TUT,     I'KIXCTSS    OK    ALASKA. 

dreamed  of  Prince  MaxutofPs  dangerous  position,  of  the 
secret  accusations  of  Fersen  and  Zubow,  and  of  the  Gover 
nor  General's  yfr/<7/  ruin!  The  ignorant  sailors  never  ques 
tioned  the  Prince's  proceedings, — the  officers  were  well 
bribed  to  hold  their  tongues,  and  none  of  them,  even,  could 
return  to  European  Russia,  or  leave  the  land  of  icy  vol 
canoes,  Khamschatka,  without  Zubow's  own  passports! 

"  But  when  his  ship  the  '  Nevsky  '  was  missing — with  him 
and  his  whole  staff  on  board,  when  the  fleet  despatch  cor 
vettes  returned  for  the  season,  having  seen  the  'Nevsky' 
in  the  stormy  Ochotsk,  and  the  last  boat  reporting  the 
Governor  as  '  Missing,' — General  Dachkof  ordered  me  to 
skirt  the  coast  at  once  with  my  powerful  steamer  and 
ascertain  the  fate  of  the  'Nevsky'. 

"The  few  survivors  who  struggled  through  the  wild 
breakers  on  the  awful  night  when  Prince  Zubow  perished 
miserably,  were  living  on  lichens  and  fish,  with  the  squalid 
natives  of  gloomy  Cape  Lopatka!  The  death  of  fierce 
Zubow  loosened  the  tongues  of  the  men  who  were  his  bond 
slaves  fio  longer!  I  brought  them  all  down  to  Nikolaevsk, 
and  General  Dachkof's  sagacity  soon  penetrated  the  mys 
tery  of  Maxutoffs  disgrace!  Loving  Gregory  and  fearing 
the  smothering  of  the  truth  by  the  all-powerful  syndicate 
of  Zubow's  friends,  he  sent  the  most  intelligent  men  quietly 
home  with  me,  and  has  since  reduced  the  testimony  of  the 
others  to  writing.— K<?wr  letters  at  Sevastopol,  and  your 
warning  telegram  prevented  me,  perhaps,  divulging  this  to 
those  who  might  have  warned  Count  Fersen  and  Phillifpi! 
—The  villainy  of  these  two  cormorants  of  the  Arctic,  is  a 
disgrace  to  the  Czar's  government! — The  shore  natives  of 
Siberia  are  continually  kept  in  terror  and  brutalized  by 
these  \)Q\<\  fur  pirates. 

"  There  are  many  other  crimes  which  stain  the  memory  of 
the  man  whose  requiem  is  howled  by  the  wild  winds  of  the 
Qchotsk.  His  own  body  was  never  found.  It  was  ground 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  363 

in  the  fangs  of  the  cruel  rocks  of  the  terrible  coast!  But 
what  awful  secrets  died  with  him!  This  man  tells  me  that 
Zubow  and  a  refugee  named  Lefranc  dogged  and  spied  upon 
Prince  Maxutoff's  expedition  searching  for  gold!  They 
landed  on  the  island  which  he  had  selected  and  secretly 
watched  his  parties  for  days!  " 

The  Commodore  abruptly  ceased,  for  Countess  Olga's 
fair  head  fell  on  her  bosom  in  a  sudden  swoon  of  fright! 
She  knew  at  last,  the  brutal  revenge  of  Zubow!  And  of 
the  coward  hands  that  wrought  Fedor  Orlof's  death!  The 
sad  story  of  the  past  was  unravelled  before  the  loving  v?o- 
man  sobbed  herself  to  sleep! 

As  Countess  Olga  passed  out  the  next  day  from  under 
the  great  granite  arch  of  the  Orlof  mansion,  her  homeward 
voyage  was  blessed  with  beautiful  Vera's  last  whispers: 

'•The  sorrows  of  the  past  have  now  all  faded  away 
Dear  one, you  have  broken  the  spell!  You  have  brought 
back  happiness  to  our  Beatrice!  Look  at  your  own  Ste- 
phan!  The  Empress  has  already  asked  for  him  at  the  Corps 
des  Pages!  Around  our  darling  Irma, — the  Czarina's  love 
will  cling  as  a  mantle,  and  she  has  Dimitri,  you  and  I,  as 
weU  as — Arthur!" 

The  beaming  bride  finished  with  a  mocking  smile,  for  the 
artist  seemed  to  have  left  his  heart  behind,  when  the  great 
doors  of  the  Catherine  Institute  swallowed  up  the  reluctant 
little  Princess  of  Alaska. 

"  I  suppose  we  will  #//come  back,  when  Prince  Gregory 
arrives!"  reflectively  said  Randolph,  as  he  bade  adieu  to 
the  provoking  young  ambassadress.  His  mird  was  already 
fixed  on  a  certain  hoped-for  future  meeting  with  Irma!-- 

"  Naturally,  the  Maxutoffs  must  be  presented  together  to 
the  sovereigns  who  have  vowed  to  repair  the  years  sacri 
ficed  to  Zubow's  dark  crimes!  " 

But  the  teasing  patrician  Vera  said  gravely: 

"  An  artist  whose  name  is  already  known  from  Washing- 


364  I  UK     I'KIM'KSS    OF    ALASKA. 

ton  to  the  salons  of  Paris,  Berlin,  Munich  and  Dresden,  a 
man  whom  even  the  Italians  can  say  is  not  a  slave  to  Ger 
man  art,  a  man  worthy  of  the  best  French  modern  schools' 
laurels,  will  be  kept  very  busy  in  his  studio!  " 

"  I  might  come  if  you  asked  me  !  "  said  t^e  artist  doubt 
fully!  " 

All  lovers  are  blind  in  their  pre-occupation! 

"  Oh,  by  all  means  then,  you  must  come!  Dimitri,  you 
know,  will  be  so  glad  to  see  you!  He  has  taken  a  great 
fancy  to  his  '  American  brother!  " 

The  two  ladies  exchanged  very  meaning  glances,  as  Ar 
thur  Randolph  departed  without  leaving  any  further  greet 
ing  for  that  glowing  young  beauty, — the  Princess  of  Alaska! 
A  singular  omission  ! — 

Countess  Olga  Orlof  wondered  at  the  strange  calmness 
of  Princess  Beatrice  Maxutoff  herself  under  the  joyous 
news  of  her  husband's  pardon!  The  flame  of  life  flickered 
but  feebly  within  her  worn  frame!  Baron  Butzow  omin 
ously  shook  his  head! — 

"  Olga,  I  can  not  understand  Beatrice!  She  seems  as  if 
only  dazed  by  the  good  news!  I  do  not  think  that  she  will 
ever  realize  his  liberation  until  she  meets  him!  And  then  I 
almost  fear  for  the  result!  This  crowning  mercy  is  of  the 
kind  that  either  kills  or  cures!  Which  will  it  be?  Ah! 
Russia!  Russia!  I  can  see  now  that  had  any  cool,  honest 
man, — not  allied  to  the  great  Siberian  schemers, — gone  out 
to  the  North  Pacific,  the  innocence  of  Piince  Gregory 
would  have  been  at  once  manifest!  Even  brave  old  Dachkof 
would  have  ferreted  it  out, — but  he  was  powerless  in  Kham- 
schatka, — and  the  treachery  at  San  Francisco,  with  Zubow's 
holding  back  all  his  poor  underlings  in  his  own  jurisdiction 
made  it  impossible  to  reach  the  truth!  "• 

'•'Only  the  unexpected  death  of  the  Tartar  Prince  could 
loosen  the  tongues  of  the  servile  agents  used  in  that  stu 
pendous  villainy! — I  can  see  that  every  movement  was 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  365 

planned  to  forestall  the  Czar's  kindness  to  Maxutoff!  The 
fatal  mistake  was  not  to  have  ordered  two  frigates  to  have 
convoyed  the  Governor  General,  his  suite,  the  fur  ships 
and  the  property  home!  Then,  in  the  honorable  hands  of 
navy  officers,  the  whole  would  have  been  safe!  It  is  but 
one  more  proof  of  the  utter  failure  of  Russia's  bureau  sys 
tem! — It  will  all  be  different  when  the  telegraph  and  rail 
reach  the  Pacific  ^at  Vladivostock!  The  Ariel  and  Puck  of 
modern  civilization  will  then  be  twin  defenders  of  the 
Czar's  interests!  Alas!  Beatrice!  Sweet  White  Rose  of 
Sitka!  Your  sorrows,  your  appealing,  accusing  eyes  will 
soon  be  to  friend  and  foe  but  a  graceful  memory!  For, 
not  even  haughty  Peter's  heir  can  give  back  these  wasted 
years  of  undeserved  sorrow, — of  unmerited  shame!  Not 
even  the  Czarina's  necklace  of  half  a  million  in  matchless 
pearls  can  outweigh  these  years  of  Life  and  Love  lost  for 
ever!  " 

"  Better  had  Gregory  and  Beatrice  lingered  together, 
under  the  northern  lights,  reaping  only  the  fancied  harvest 
of  Hope! — Sweet  Irma!  Unhappy  Princess  of  Alaska! 
Your  sovereigns  should  hold  you  now  tenderly  at  heart,  as 
the  ward  of  sorrow,  a  dainty  child  born  to  April's  smiles 
and  tears!  " 

And  Olga  and  Arthur  lovingly  waited,  silently  eyeing 
each  other,  for  weary  weeks  to  hear  the  summons  to  the 
home-coming  in  honor  of  poor  Gregory  Maxutoff! 

While  doubts  and  fears  reigned  alternately  with  cheering 
hope,  over  the  expectant  circle  at  Dresden, — and  even 
Princess  Maxutoff 's  gentle  eyes  bore  an  unvarying  question 
in  their  sad  gleams,  far  away,  a  thousand  leagues  away,  a 
brave  Russian  general  held  with  desperate  valor  the  rude 
earthworks  around  the  bazars  of  Khokan,  against  a  mad 
struggle  of  the  Turcomans  to  drive  the  white-capped  Russ 
into  the  Jaxartes!  The  wild  chiefs  of  Turkestan  had  met 
secretly  in  the  far  slopes  of  the  Thian  Shan,  and  led  by  the 


366  i  m     PRINCESS   or   AI  ASKA. 

Khan  of  Khokan,  waited  till  the  absence  of  heavy  detach 
ments  had  weakened  the  cavalry  brigade  holding  the  very 
outposts  of  Russia's  Asian  frontier  line!  And  then,  the 
mad  children  of  the  desert  swooped  down,  with  fire  and 
flame,  on  the  divided  invaders!  Over  the  arid,  burning,  salt- 
crested  plains,  out  of  the  alkaline  bitter  well  pits,  from  be 
hind  deserted  mud-walled  villages,  and  dashing  forth  from 
scattered  oases,  the  wild  riders  triumphantly  yelled,  in  a 
fierce  joy,  as  they  smote  the  enfeebled  Muscovites  with 
their  heavy  curved  sabres!  Assaulted  at  different  points,  the 
Czar's  foot  soldiers  dug  breastworks,  and,  from  their  shel 
ter,  with  their  heavy  rifles,  decimated  the  ferocious  brigands! 
—The  hardy  Cossacks  plied  lance  and  revolver,  and  only 
died,  when  hacked  off  their  horses,  like  tigers,  fighting  to 
the  last,  for  the  Czar! 

*But,  starvation,  thirst,  and  the  failure  of  ammunition 
finally  crippled  the  Russian  generals! — The  valleys  of  the 
Oxus  and  Jaxartes  swarmed  with  the  manstealers  in  a  great 
national  revolt. — The  great  hollow  plain  of  the  Caspian 
and  Ural  seemed  lost  to  the  Czar,  and  in  this  desert  land, 
sweltering  in  tropic  summer,  Arctic  in  the  fierce  winters, 
the  bare  open  plains  gave  no  shelter  to  the  organized  Euro 
pean  troops!  The  river  meadows,  the  lean  pastures,  the 
scanty  oases,  were  held  by  the  Rebel  Mohammedans,  and 
all  the  western  avenues  to  help  and  reinforcements  were  at 
last  closed!  Piles  of  the  heads  of  the  gallant  Russian 
soldiers  were  ghastly  signals  ot"No  Thoroughfare!" 

When,  after  the  repeated  failure  of  couriers  to  reach  the 
outer  columns,  the  Russian  General  shut  himself  up  in 
Khokan, — he  realized  that  his  two  expeditionary  com 
manders  had  been  driven  to  bay  like  himself! — With  a 
strong  hand,  he  seized  the  supplies  of  Khokan,  expelled  the 
rabble,  and  massing  his  mountain  artillery  for  defense, 
placed  the  herds  and  animals  under  strong  guards! 


II  IK    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  367 

"  It  is  now  a  siege  to  the  bitter  death! "  cried  the  gallant 
General,  as  he  rode  back  from  a  charge,  his  SWQI&  red  with 
blood,  to  his  headquarters  in  the  principal  mosque! 

For  he  had  loopholed  the  buildings, — made  convenient 
magazines  of  the  rich  mosques, — and,  at  the  sword's  point, 
forced  the  treacherous  Khokanese  to  barricade  the  streets 
and  put  the  garden  walls  and  cemeteries  in  a  military  fit 
ness  for  defense! 

"Water,  a  month's  food,  with  the  animals,  we  have! 
Powder,  lead  and  our  good  swords!  " 

He  drove  out  the  useless  rebel  population  to  live  on  his 
enemies,  and  then,  issued  the  last  decree  of  war, — the  dread 
order  for  "No  Quarter!  " 

While  the  Czar's  flag  flew  proudly,  in  derision  of  the 
circling  hosts  who  charged  the  lines  daily.  General  Apraxin 
from  the  tallest  minaret,  where  the  Romanoff's  ensign  still 
wooed  the  breeze,  gloomily  watched  at  night  the  camp 
fires  of  the  vast  hosts  gathered  around  him! — It  was  late  in 
the  season!  The  harvests  were  all  carried  off  or  secreted, 
and  with  spear  and  knife,  the  maddened  mob,  expelled  by 
his  stern  orders,  aided  in  the  HQvr  frantic  daily  rush  on  the 
works  where  the  Russians  grimly  killed  their  foes  in  silence! 
They  forgot  at  last  to  cheer  in  victory  for  hope  had  fled! — 
Still  they  swore  to  die  '•for  the  Czar!  '- 

On  the  south,  from  the  hostile  Afghans,  and  the  English', 
— on  the  east,  from  the  Chinese, — no  assistance  could  be 
hoped! — They  were  secret  foes  exultant  at  this  serious 
check  to  the  Czar's  flag!  To  the  west,  the  valley  of  the 
Oxus  was  now  firmly  closed  by  the  wild  hordes  of  the  Emir 
of  Bokhara  and  the  Khan  of  Khiva!  A  wild  desire  to 
sweep  the  Russian  invaders  into  the  Sir-Daria  maddened 
the  swarming  fanatic  horsemen  of  the  plains! 

The  conflict  ceased  not  with  day,  when  the  Russian  rifles 
held  the  fierce  riders  at  d:stance!  In  the  starlit  nights,  in 
the  blackness  of  midnight,  the  fierce  Mongol  Turks  charged 


$68  THK.    PRINCESS   OP   ALASKA. 

in  a  terrible  fury  up  to  the  very  works!  It  was  then,  that  the 
General  and  private  fought,  side  by  side,  to  repel  these 
matchless  riders  of  Turkestan!  The  children  of  the  world's 
bravest  fighters  were  drinking  deeply  of  Russian  blood! 
The  peerless  Genghis  Khan,  a  world's  hero,  and  his  later 
kinsman,  resistless  Tamerlane,  whose  pyramid  of  skulls 
attested  the  swordsman's  awful  rule,  had  transmitted  to 
these  dauntless  rebels  the  bravery  which  is  the  type  of  the 
Mongolidae! 

These  hardy  Turanians  fought  their  Slavic  foes  with  the 
ferocious  courage  common  to  the  Uigours,  as  well  as  the 
Seljuk  and  Osmali  Turks.  For  the  Turkish  Mongol,  brave 
to  a  point  of  madness,  has  a  common  tongue  and  warlike 
nature  from  the  Yakuts  of  the  icy  sea  to  the  'unspeakable ' 
Osmanli  of  Plevna! 

General  Apraxin's  brow  was  dark,  as  he  gazed  out  on  the 
thirsty  plains  where  fiery  Persian  Iranian  once  met  the 
undefeated  Turanian,  where  Macedonian,  Arab,  Mongol, 
Russian,  Chinese,  Afghan  and  even  the  red-coated  Eng 
lish,  have  battled  since  Christ's  coming  to  hold  the  roof  of 
the  world, the  blue-peaked  Altai  mountains:  the  key  of  Cen 
tral  Asia! 

"  I  shall  lose  the  Czar  this  army!  I  shall  relax  for  Russia 
the  hard  won  dominion  of  Turan!"  groaned  Apraxin,  as  he 
swept  with  his  glass  the  lonely  valley  of  the  Jaxartes!  For 
from  the  north  he  watched  daily  in  vain  for  the  gleam  of 
Russian  bayonets! — He  waited  hopelessly  for  the  rescuing 
columns  from  Tashkend! 

Day  by  day,  the  General  lost  the  last  vestige  of  hope! 
From  his  slender  minaret  he  swept  the  eastern  sandy  battle 
plains!  No  sound  of  heavy  guns  boomed  out  to  indicate 
the  return  of  his  two  detached  columns! 

"Even  with  them,  I  could  only  fight  my  way  out! — To  give 
up  Khokan  is  to  betray  the  Czar! " 

Realizing  that  his  knots  of  couriers,  sent  ten  days  before 


THE    PRINCESS   OF    ALASKA.  369 

to  Tashkend  had  all  been  cut  off  and  murdered,  he  closed 
his  glass,  after  an  hour's  bitter  mental  struggle! 

"/  must  call  a  council  to-night!  Either  I  must  renew 
my  past  attempts  to  gain  help  at  once  from  Tashkend, 
or  blow  up  the  magazines  and  retire  down  the  Jaxartes, 
with  these  yelling  hordes  charging  my  rear  guard  fifty 
times  a  day!  They  will  swarm  on  my  flanks,  despite  the 
advance,  and  wear  away  my  brave  fighting  men  in  the 
snapping,  crackling  zone  of  ever-living  fire,  which  will 
hover  moving  around  us!  Could  I  hope  to  make  the 
march  of  ninety-two  miles  to  Tashkend,  fighting  my  way, 
with  my  sick  and  wounded?  " 

He  dropped  his  head  on  his  war-worn  breast  in  de 
spair! — Surrender  meant  death  to  all! — 

His  soldierly  spirit  rose,  as  reaching  his  disheartened 
staff,  he  sprang  on  his  horse  and  headed  a  needed  coun 
ter  charge!  The  clouds  of  dust,  whence  red  lambent 
flame  darted  out,  the  wild  melee,  with  its  screams  of 
pain  and  yells  of  triumph,  told  that  the  lean  brown  dev 
ils  were  hurled  on  the  lines  again  in  their  splendid  recK- 
lessness  of  death!  For  it  was  a  "holy  war,"  and  the 
white-veiled  Dervishes  rode  to  their  death,  knife  in  hand, 
struggling  like  jungle  leopards  in  the  toils! 

Behind  a  hard-held  redoubt,  before  which  lay  mounds 
of  the  dead  shaven  Turcomans,  in  the  gloomy  silence  of 
the  night,  where  the  only  living  thing  heard  was  a  stray 
charger  who  neighed  ove.r  his  dead  master,  Apraxin  and 
his  officers,  in  whispers,  counseled  as  to  the  last  resort! 
At  any  moment,  a  mad  rush  of  the  foe  might  break  off 
the  conference!  With  ominous  faces,  the  superiors  lis 
tened  to  their  stubborn  General! 

"  Any  further  suggestions!"  the  anxious  chief  paused, 
when  they  had  all  spoken.  "It  is  one  of  two  things, 
either,  defense  here  to  the  last,  or  the  continuous  battle  of 


370  THE    PRINCESS   OF    ALASKA. 

a  moving  column! — If  the  division  at  Tashkend  would 
make  a  forward  movement  so  as  to  meet  us  half  way, 
these  circling  hosts  would  soon  vanish! — We  could  pass 
on  to  recruit  at  Tashkend,  and  a  strong  fresh  column 
push  on  //<wand  hold  this  strong  position!  From  Khojend, 
flying  columns  could  chase  off  the  surprised  rebels! — 
But,  nothing  less  than  a  full  regiment  could  fight  its  way 
through,  and  bring  us  help!"  There  was  a  pause. 
"Shall  we  vote,  gentlemen?"  Apraxin's  breast  was 
moved  by  an  awful  struggle.  He  had  never  abandoned  a 
post  in  his  thirty  years  of  war! 

"Excellency,  /  have  a  soldier  in  my  body  guard  who 
has  once  been  a  man  of  rank!'"  a  gray-bearded  Colonel 
said:  "He  has  been  now /cur  years  in  the  Aral  valley 
and  knows  all  the  local  dialects!  He  thinks  that  a  few 
brave  chosen  men,  dressed  as  camel  drivers  or  buffalo 
herders,  might  descend  the  Jaxartes,  drifting  along  at 
night  on  a  raft,  and  lying  in  hiding  by  day,  and  well  dis 
guised  so  as  to  deceive  any  wandering  swordsmen!  He 
has  offered  to  tr\  and  run  the  lines  alone,  but  I  would  not 
consent!  He  is  a  very  native  in  his  appearance  now!  I 
have  questioned  him  and  he  thinks  the  effort  to  push  out 
small  parties  of  mi  I  it  a  rv  messengers  on  to  Tashkend,  was 
simply  fatal  to  success!  Now,  if  a  half  dozen  of  these 
disguised  men  were  to  try!  He  says  he  could  get  down 
to  Tashkend  alone  in  three  davs!  If  he  should  live  to 
meet  the  Russian  outposts,  help  could  be  here  in  a 
wee&/—\Ve  could  hold  out  till  then!"— 

"Good!"  cried  a  dozen  voices.  "Let  us  make  the 
attempt!  Let  us  hold  our  lines  firmly  a  week  longer  on 
the  defensive,  prepare  our  wounded,  make  ready,  and  if 
nothing  is  heard  in  ten  days,  then  march  out  after  destroy 
ing  the  defenses.''" 

"Bring  the  man  here!"  the  General  ordered.  "We 
will,  at  least,  listen  to  him!" — 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  371 

And  ten  minutes  later,  in  a  simple  soldier's  ragged 
uniform,  Gregory  Maxutoff,  once  the  Czar's  proud  Viceroy 
of  Alaska, — stood  before  the  anxious  circle!  His  stern 
eloquence  had  aroused  the  Colonel's  faith!  Now,  lean 
and  tigerlike,  he  thrilled  the  desperate  officers,  with  the 
quiet  decision  of  his  plans! 

"I  can  select  two  or  three  comrades  who  have  the  same 
knowledge  as  /  have!  The  men  who  have  ridden  the 
courier  express  for  four  years!  I  will  stake  my  own  life 
on  the  plan!" 

"You  can  do  no  more, — even,  for  the  Czar!"  answered 
Apraxin.  "Go!  Get  your  men  together,  but  only  as 
volunteers!  Return  at  once!  Adjutant!  You  will  see 
that  this  man  has  everything  that  can  be  done!  Return 
here  for  your  last  orders/  What  is  your  final  plan?" 

"To  dress  myself  as  a  Dervish,  and  underneath,  wear 
the  guise  of  a  herdsman,  taking  with  me  a  couple  of  skin 
air-bags,  and  then  finding  a  log  of  driftwood,  I  can  drift 
five  miles  an  hour,  hiding  in  the  river's  rushes  by  day! 
I  will  explain,  if  captured,  that  I  fled  from  a  knot  of  Rus 
sian  wandering  fugitives!" 

His  sifnple  earnestness  impressed  General  Apraxin. 

"What  is  your  name,  my  man?  Your  despatches  will 
be  all  ready  in  an  hour!" 

"I  should  start  at  once!  1  can  get  down  to  the  river 
safely  before  midnight!  They  are  quiet  now!  I  wish  to 
pass  Khojend  at  night!  Then,  I  can  hide  in  the  ravines 
of  the  Soralka  and  Djirhik,  and  reach  the  gardens  of 
Tashkend  safely!  My  companions  will  each  follow  on 
two  hours  later,  taking  opposite  sides  of  the  river!"  The 
worn  and  wasted  soldier  waited  the  signal  for  action! 

"Stay!      What  is  your  name?'1''  the  General  asked. 

"  Gregory  Maxutoff"  replied  the  private. 

Apraxin  sprang  to  the  side  of  the  forlorn-hope  volun- 


372  Tin:  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

teer. — " Not  the  man  who  was  once  a  Governor?"  he 
hoarsely  whispered. 

•'  Yc$i  your  Excellency!  A  convict  now,  reduced  to 
the  ranks!" 

"Go!  In  God's  name!  If  yon  reach  Tashkent!,  the 
Czar  ////// self  will  reward  you!  You  will  save  a  Russian 


11 1  will  tr\  to  do  my  duty!"  simply  answered  the  vol 
unteer,  and,  in  the  darkness,  their  hands  met!  They 
were  both  soldiers  under  fire! — 

Two  hours  later,  over  the  battlefield  in  its  clinging 
shades  of  night,  where  skulker  and  jackal  vied  in  prowling 
for  prey  or  plunder,  moving  along  on  his  hands  and  knees, 
the  aristocratic  Maxutoff, — once  a  Czar's  Viceroy,  crawled 
through  the  nullahs,  choked  with  the  bodies  of  men  and 
horses! — A  heavy  native  knife  attached  to  his  waist  by  a 
thong,  a  staff,  a  gourd  for  water,  and  the  despatches 
concealed  in  his  sandals'  soles,  were  the  wanderer's  slen 
der  outfit  for  the  desperate  quest! — The  wallet  of  biscuit 
was  his  simple  store  of  food  for  the  long  journey. — It 
was  three  o'clock,  when,  inflating  the  two  skin  bags  he 
lightly  carried,  and  clinging  to  a  light  palm  trunk  left 
stranded  on  a  sandbar,  the  messenger  of  the  Czar  floated 
down  in  the  current  of  the  Sir-Daria,  silently  past  the 
huddled  outposts  of  the  rebels! — As  he  left  the  shore, 
he  heard  behind  him  only  the  scattering  shots  of  night 
prowlers,  and  the  howls  of  the  jackals  fighting  over  the 
grisly  feast! — 

For  four  long  days,  the  roar  of  battle  still  raged 
around  the  walls  and  ledges  of  Khokan!  The  stubborn 
Russians,  husbanding  their  own  ammunition,  only 
repelled  positive  assault  and  sallying  out  then,  stripped 
the  slain,  and  kept  the  rebels  at  bay  during  the  day  with 
their  captured  weapons  and  ammunition. — A  few  well- 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  373 

directed  shots  from  the  mountain  rifled  pieces  broke  up 
their  charging  columns  of  Turcomans! 

' '  The  infidel  dogs  are  surely  waiting  for  help '.  growled 
Abu-beg,  the  rebel  chief,  as  he  reined  up  his  white 
Arabian  to  scan  the  daily  strengthened  lines  ot  the 
defenders!  "But  the  dogs  of  the  desert  have  fattened  CP 
their  dead  messengers!"  and  he  waved  his  fierce  legions 
on  again,  in  the  name  of  Allah,  to  a  glorious  death! — 

Through  the  streets  of  beautiful  Tashkend,  lying  on 
the  rich  plain  of  the  laralka,  a  mule-litter  bore,  that 
very  day,  a  wounded,  gasping  fugitive,  who,  roughly 
bandaged,  could  only  gasp,  as  his  groans  interrupted 
him.  "To  the  General!  For  Life  and  Death!  The  gar 
rison  of  Khokan  is  beleagured!  Despatches!" — 

Before  the  sun  was  down,  the  great  city  in  its  ten  miles 
of  length  and  five  of  breadth,  was  alive  with  the  muster 
ing  squadrons.  The  hardy  Russians  sprang  to  their  arms 
and  sallied  forth  from  the  gardens  and  vineyards  to  the 
rescue  of  'fighting  Apraxin!'  Couriers  at  wildest  speed 
had  swept  out  already  to  consolidate  the  outposts,  and 
push  along  a  strong  column  to  hold  Khojend,  until  the 
long  camel  trains  and  mounted  batteries  could  by  morn 
ing — be  on  the  main  road,  backed  up  by  the  swinging 
masses  of  the  bearded  infantry  soldiery! — Strong  guards 
controlled  the  excited  bazars,  and  every  hour  the  sing 
ing  bugles  told  of  the  stern  warriors'  departure  for  those 
fields  where  the  sword  of  Peter  would  drink  in  revenge, 
the  blood  of  the  flower  of  the  Asian  chivalry?  The  brave 
General-in-Chief,  before  he  rode  out,  leaving  a  grizzly 
lieutenant  to  hold  the  turbulent  mob  in  an  iron  grasp, 
stood  by  the  bedside  of  the  wounded  hero  courier!— 

"Your  Excellency!  He  must  not  be  disturbed!  All 
depends,  on  quiet,  now!  He  has  a  very  deep  lance 

24 


374  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

wound  in  his  side,  and  is  exhausted  by  fatigue  and  the 
great  loss  of  blood." — 

' '  Does  any  one  know  him?  He  is  a  gallant  fellow  t" 
The  Chief  gazed  around  at  his  silent  staff.  "  Attend 
him,  as  if  he  were  the  Czarevitch,"  he  cried. 

"This  man  has  saved  the  honor  of  the  Russian  army,— 
if  the  column  reaches  Khokan,  in  time!" 

The  Commanding  General  turned  away,  with  a  heavy 
sigh. 

"  If  he  lives,  he  shall  have  the  Grand  Cross  of  St. 
riadimir  for  this!  Find  out  his  past  history!  The  Czar 

shall  reward  him!" And  the  old  soldier  swept  out  to 

the  field  to  smite  and  spare  not!— 

"He  will  never  need  earthly  laurels,  I  fear!"  said  the 
kindly  old  Chief-Surgeon  as  the  chief  vanished.  At  the 
first  outpost,  the  Governor-General  found  the  only  other 
survivor  of  the  five  volunteers! — Three  had  been  either 
captured  or  driven  to  the  companionship  of  the  desert 
beasts! 

"  Who  was  your  leader?"  demanded  the  eager  Com 
mander. — 

With  pride,  the  rescued  soldier  said:  "The  man  who 
has  given  up  his  life  to  save  your  army  over  there,  was 
once.  Prince  Gregory  Maxutoff,  the  Governor- General  of 
Alaska!" 

"If  he  lives,  the  Czar  shall  pardon  him!"  solemnly 
said  the  startled  Chief,  "I  swear  it! — I  heard  that  old 
story  years  ago!  See  that  a  special  despatch  be  sent  to 
Orenburg  at  once,  to  be  telegraphed  forthwith  to  the 
War  Department  on  this  subject." — The  Chief  of  Staff 
bowed,  and  calling  an  orderly  officer  wrote  his  instruc 
tions. 

"Forward!"  ordered  the  Chief.  "We  must  press  on 
after  the  Cossacks  I  If  they  are  thirty  miles  away  now, 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  375 

by  daybreak  of  the  day  after  to-morrow,  they  will  charge 
through  that  rabble!  If  our  main  body  is  half  way  over 
the  desert,  then  the  rebels'  doom  will  be  quickly  settled! — 

The  ravens  had  fattened  on  the  bodies  of  thousands 
of  the  mad  Turcomans  before  General  Apraxiri,  after 
his  relief,  gazed  once  more  in  the  face  of  the  Czar's 
heroic  messenger,  lying  wounded  at  Tashkend! — 

The  two  united  outlying  columns  had  been  finally  re 
lieved  and  United,  and,  far  and  near,  with  wild  'hourras', 
the  Don  Cossacks  sabred  the  exhausted  plainsmen, 
whose  steeds  were  now  worn  out,  and  who  were  driven 
out  to  perish  in  the  burning  desert! 

In  a  great  chamber  of  the  depot  hospital,  a  white- 
faced  man,  now  fever-worn  to  a  skeleton,  lay  scarcely 
pressing  the  hospital  bed  with  his  wasted  frame! 

Gregory  Maxutoff  was  slowly  dying\ — The  afternoon 
sun  streamed  in  through  the  rustling  foliage  of  the  rose- 
fragrant  garden,  an  old  harem  of  the  conquered  Khan! 
There  was  no  sound  in  the  bare  room  save  the  whisper 
of  a  circle  of  grave  Generals,  glittering  in  all  the  marks 
of  the  Czar's  favor! 

' 'It  is  for  you,  General  Apraxin!"  said  the  Com- 
mandef-in-Chief,  "to  tell  him  now  of  the  Czar's  pardon! 
Of  his  restored  rank!  You  can  tell  him  that  his  name  will 
live  in  Russia  as  the  man  who  saved  a  beleagured  strong 
hold, —  and  an  exhausted  veteran  army!  The  let 
ter, — the  last  message  of  his  wife!  He  can  not  read  it! 
Can  we  read  it  to  him?  " 

The  Chief-Surgeon  led  the  Commander  aside  to  an 
ante-room. 

"He  has  only  a  half  hour  —  or  an  hour,  at  the 
most!" — 

The  General's  voice  was  broken  as  he  said  softly: 
"Then,  Apraxin  must  tell  him  all!  He  shall  know  of 
his  pardon!  Of  his  wife's  undying  love!" 


IHI.     I'KINVKSS    01-     ALASKA. 

"It  is  well!-"  the  old  Surgeon  replied  and  bowed  his 
gray  head.  "  Hasten!  for  the  sands  of  his  last  hour  are 
running  away!  " 

The  two  victorious  Generals  and  the  Surgeon  alone, 
bent  over  the  pale  sufferer,  whose  heaving  breast  now 
scarcely  moved  the  light  counterpane  with  his  light 
breathing!  At  hand  with  restoratives,  the  eager  physi 
cian  waited  with  his  faithful  aids. 

"Do  you  know  me,  Prince  Maxutoff!"  gravely  said 
Apraxin,  as  he  held  up  in  his  hand  the  pictures  of  Max 
utoff' s  wife  and  child, — the  Princess  of  Alaska,  whom 
another  hour  would  make  fatherless! 

The  dying  man  fixed  his  lustrous  eyes  in  eager  mental 
attention  upon  the  General  who  had  called  him  "Prince" 
for  the  first  time! 

"The  Czar  \\&s  pardoned  you!  All  is  known  at  last! 
Your  innocence  is  adjudged!" 

A  gleam  of  light  shone  in  the  glazing  eyes  of  the 
sufferer. 

"He  sends  you  this!"  And  the  brave  old  soldier  laid 
his  own  grand  cross,  in  Maxutoff 's  wasted  hand! — 

The  thin  fingers  did  not  close  upon  it,  but  feebly 
plucked  at  the  muslin  coverlet!  Maxutoff  tried  vainly 
to  speak!  The  Surgeon  sprang  forward  and  moistened 
his  pale  lips.  His  glazing  eyes  told  the  story!  It  was 
4  Too  late! ' 

''Hasten!"  whispered  the  surgeon! 

In  a  tender  voice  Apraxin  read  the  few  burning  lines 
of  love  traced  by  the  hand  of  fond  Beatrice  Maxutoff, 
waiting  lonely  far  away  on  the  peaceful  banks  of  the  Elbe ! 
The  glad  light  in  the  sufferer's  eyes  told  that  Love's 
Crown  of  Sorrows,  the  last  greeting  of  his  beloved,  was 
silently  accepted, —  that  his  heart  thrilled  still  with  her 
gracious  memory! 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  377 

"Your  spotless  name,  your  heroic  gallantry,  will  be  the 
proud  heritage  of  your  child !  The  Czar  himself  will  be 
to  her,  a  father! "-  —And  Apraxin  held  up  before  the 
dying  Prince,  the  pictures  which  showed  him  the  dear 
one  whose  love  had  long  made  his  earthly  happiness, 
and  the  beautiful  face  of  the  little  Princess  of  Alaska! 

The  dying  soldier  struggled  to  rise.  They  lifted  him 
gently,  and,  as  his  nerveless  fingers  strove  to  grasp  the 
treasures  offered  to  him,  the  seal  of  silence  was  at  last 
broken! 

' '  Bea  trice  !  Inn  a  !  Blessed  loved  ones  —  Tell —  th  em — 
innocent!"  and  clasping  in  his  dead  fingers,  the  faces  he 
had  pictured  in  his  heart  for  the  four  lonely,  silent  years 
of  a  convict's  slavery — the  Czar's  humblest  messenger  lay 
dead, — with  the  light  of  a  distant  love  shining  on  his 
pale  soldierly  face! — 

"  //  is  over!"  said  the  Surgeon,  as  he  led  the  stern 
old  Commander  away,  whose  tears  now  veiled  the  dead 
man's  face!  He  was  himself — a  husband 'and  a  father! 


I'KIM.  ESS     01      Al..\>k.\; 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

VERA  NARVCHKINE'S  CONFIDENCE — AN  ARTIST'S  ORDEAL— -> 

THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA OLGA  ORLOF's  IMPERIAL 

FRIEND — AN  AMERICAN  MILLIONAIRE'S  GALLERY— 
RANDOLPH'S   NEW  ORDER — THE   LOST  HERIT 
AGE — THE  NEW  RUSSIAN  MINISTER. 

"  I  wonder  what  Madame  Narychkine  can  mean  by  all 
this!"  and  Arthur  Randolph  smoothed  his  Vandyke 
beard  impatiently.  He  was  lying  on  a  couch  covered 
with  a  superb  leopard  skin,  and  his  artist  eye  strayed 
idly  around  the  most  luxurious  studio  in  Dresden! — 
Randolph  watched  the  white  ash  thicken  on  his  cheroot 
before  he  found  an  answer  to  his  own  question. 

"I  must  see  you  at  once  alone!  I  can  give  you  an 
hour,  before  the  Ball!  Come  to  the  Legation  at  ten! 
Do  not  fail  me!" — Vera.— 

The  successful  painter  sprang  up  as  lithe  as  a  tiger, 
for  a  sudden  thought  had  seized  him. 

"Can  it  be? — Let  me  see!  It  is  six  years  since  poor 
Maxutoff's  death  !  But  Vera  Narychkine  has  been 
stationed  continuously  at  Athens!  She  will  surely  now 
see  Irma  soon  at  the  Winter  Palace!  But,  if  Countess 
Olga  is  right,  they  have  not  met, — since  the  great  mockery 
of  poor  Gregory's  funeral!  What  can  it  be?  Some  new 
sorrow? — Does  the  curse  of  Zubow  still  linger?" 

He  picked  up  the  dainty  billet  of  the  very  wittiest  and 
most  brilliant  of  Russia's  woman  champions  in  the 
world's  diplomatic  arena! 

"If  there's  a  postscript,  I  suppose  that  the  secret  ot 
the  riddle  may  be  read  there!  Ah!  Yes!" 

And,    below   the   firm,    slashing    signature    of   Vera 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  379 

Narychkine,  he  saw  traced  the  astonishing  words  "This 
is  to  be,  at  once,  a  confidence  and  a  warning!  Not  a 
word  to  Dimitri!  " — 

Randolph  smiled  in  spite  of  himself! 

"She  is  finer  than  even  Madame  Ignatief,  the  fair 
Countess  whose  gentle  manner  so  well  covered  the  cool 
adroitness  of  the  Muscovite  diplomate.  For  long  years, 
even  in  hostile  London,  that  mistress  of  the  highest 
ambassadorial  craft,  was  supposed  to  be  only  a  mere  water 
lily, — a  graceful  nullity,  floating  on  the  stagnant  tide  of 
fashion's  rich  flood!  " 

He  paced  the  room  in  a  sudden  disquietude! 

"It  is,  of  course,  in  regard  to  Irma,  that  she  would 
speak  to  me!  We  have  no  other  secret!  " 

His  eyes  rested  lovingly  on  the  treasures  of  that  world- 
renowned  studio,  where  even  the  kings  of  art  now  came 
to  wonder  and  admire!  Some  subtle  spirit  of  fire  and 
flame  had  seemed  to  animate  the  spirited  young  American 
in  his  onward  and  upward  career.  Adored  by  his  fellows 
of  the  craft,  a  romantic,  self-contained,  social  mystery, 
Randolph  was  always  a  stranger  to  the  swarming  salons 
of  the  beau  monde  where  the  votaries  of  his  genius 
would  have  gladly  poured  out  the  honey  of  their  flattery  !— 

Few  men  of  thirty  could  so  calmly  ignore  the  soft 
advances  of  the  haughty  German  aristocracy, — the  in 
cense  of  the  women  of  that  higher  world  whose  cachet 
is  a  seal  of  modern  nobility!  But  his  splendid  wolf  dog, 
and  his  trusty  Lithuanian  blood  horse,*were  his  only  daily 
companions! 

"Is  it  that  he  absolutely  hates  our  sex?  "  cried  a  pretty 
French  Countess,  snapping  her  pearl  mounted  fan  in 
vexation,  as  Randolph  turned  away,  at  a  grand  ball, 
with  grave  but  chilling  courtesy  from  the  whispered 
summons  to  her  side,  and  resisted  the  invitation  of  her 


380  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

sparkling  eyes!  The  pretty  Gaul  seldom  found  the  Sons 
of  Adam  callous  to  her  charms! — 

"He's  a  good  fellow, — Arthur,  but  I  fancy  that  this 
studio  life  is  not  a  fitting  prelude  to  society!  "  answered 
Reginald  Mowbray,  of  the  English  Legation,  calmly 
appropriating  the  vacant  chair. 

"I  crossed  the  Atlantic  once  with  him,  when  he 
returned  from  the  old  Admiral's  obsequies!  Afen  find 
him  a  thorough-going  character,  but  I  fancy,  Countess, 
that  all  your  charming  sex  care  for,  is  a  man  who  dangles! 
Now,  Madame,  Randolph  is  really  a  serious  fellow!  'Art 
is  his  mistress,'  he  says,  and  trust  me,  he  is  spurred  on 
by  a  hidden  fiery  ambition!  —  For  a  Yankee,  ver\  un 
communicative — too! " 

And,  so  it  was,  that  handsome,  and  already  distin 
guished; — a  gold  medallist  and  a  man  of  a  cosmopolitan 
renown, — Arthur  Randolph's  social  life  was  only  a  nul 
lity!  A  memory  and  a  sigh!  He  had  never  reached  out 
for  newer  friendships,  since  Countess  Olga  Orlof,  called 
by  new  duties,  left  Dresden  for  St.  Petersburg!  Often, 
in  his  lonely  walks,  Randolph  would  pass  the  dear  old 
house  still  sacred  to  the  memory  of  ill-starred  Princess 
Beatrice.  Maxutoff !  It  was  in  fulfillment  of  the  promise 
made  long  years  before  under  the  northern  lights,  that 
Olga  Orlof  departed,  at  the  wish  of  Princess  Narychkine, 
to  rule  the  storied  old  granite  keep  as  its  mistress! 

"I  shall  only  have  two  children  now,  instead  of  one\ 
Arthur,"  gently  answered  the  Countess,  when  Randolph 
dared  to  hint  that  in  her  own  royal  beauty  of  woman's 
meridian,  she  might  link  her  life  to  that  of  some  noble 
henchman  of  the  Czar! 

"Alas!  my  friend,  Love  and  7  are  strangers  now! — 
When  Zubow  struck  down  the  head  of  the  house  of 
Orlof,  he  doomed  me  to  a  life  of  renunciation,  to  a  lonely 


THE   PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  381 

widowhood,  whose  only  crown  of  joy  will  be  to  see  my 
poor  Irma  yet,  a  bright  jewel  of  the  Russian  Court,  and 
to  know  that  Fedor  Griefs  son  is  the  truest  cavalier  in 
the  glittering  ring,  around  the  White  Czar! — You  are  the 
only  brother  of  my  heart!  How  can  I  ever  repay  you 
for  the  tender  devotion  of  all  these  long  years  at  Dres 
den!  I  shall  watch  your  star  shining  on  high  in  the 
skies  of  art,  and,  to  my  dying  day,  I  can  never  forget  the 
loyal,  gallant  American  who  defended  our  rights,  even 
at  the  risk  of  his  life!  " 

From  St  Petersburg,  Arthur  Randolph  learned  all,  in 
the  sisterly  letters  of  lovely  Irma,  now  an  especial  pro- 
tege"e  of  the  Empress: — and  from  the  constant  bulletins 
of  the  magnificent  Countess  Olga,  whose  station  near 
the  Czarina  was  that  of  a  lofty  friendship!  The  famous 
artist  sighed  over  the  silent  passing  away  of  the  White 
Rose  of  Sitka!  In  vain,  the  Czar  had  tendered  new 
dignities,  splendid  honors,  rich  rewards — and  a  most 
flattering  public  recognition  to  the  widow  of  his  faith 
ful  Governor!  The  bond  of  the  wedded  years  between 
the  dead  hero  of  Khokan  and  his  tender  wife  was  far  too 
subtile  for  even  the  Summons  of  Death  to  sever!  The 
beckoning  of  Gregory  MaxutofPs  loving  hand  called  his 
helpmeet  away  to  that  silent  land  where  serf  and  Czar 
are  on  a  level  of  nothingness. ! 

It  was  not  strange  that  courtly  old  Baron  Butzow 
proudly  exulted  in  the  tender  solicitude  of  the  Czarina, 
for  the  orphaned  Princess  of  Alaska.  "I  will  warrant 
you,  Randolph,  that  the  loftiest  alliance  in  Russia  will 
be  sought  out  by  the  imperial  pair  to  recompense  that 
blow  of  cruel  Fate,  which  left  the  rosebud  Princess 
alone  in  the  cold  world!  Friendless,  but  for  the  one  star 
of  womanhood, — Countess  Olga! — I  have  learned  from 
her  alone,  to  know  how  brave  and  true,  how  grateful  and 


3&2  THK.    1'KINCESS   OF   ALASKA. 

how  strong  of  fortitude  the  woman    nature  can  be!" 

"This  will  be  an  ordeal!"  mused  Randolph,  musing  as 
he  dressed  himself  for  the  great  Legation  reception!  "I 
can  not  disguise  my  feelings  from  this  sparkling  inquisitor! 
Thank  Heaven!  I  am  however  free  to  go  to  Peters 
burg,  if  I  should  wish!  Shall  I  see  Countess  Olga  there 
and  beg  her  aid?  But  what  have  I  to  offer  brilliant  Irma 
Maxutoff  to  replace  these  dignities  and  offset  the  future 

which  she   would  forfeit  as  an   artisfs  wife? A    man 

whose  only  life  work  is  the  simple  play  upon  seven  colors!  " 
As  Arthur  leaned  back  In  his  carriage,  he  revolved  the 
delegated  responsibility  of  Countess  Olga  Orlof!  "It  is 
true  that  she  would  aid ///<•,  but  as  guardian  of  tliis  orplianed 
girl,  could  she  ignore  lier  duty?  Irma  is  born  to  station, 
rank  and  to  the  personal  favor  of  the  sympathetic  sover 
eigns!  Even  if  the  Countess  used  her  own  potent  influence 
until  tJie  Empress,  would  it  not  finally  affect  StepJtans 
future?  Heaven  knows  poor  Maxutoff  and  Orlof  worked 
hard  enough  together  to  gain  a  princely  heritage  for  their 
children!  And  that  has  been  <z//lost!  The  grant  seems 
to  have  been  entirely  ignored!  I  might  see  Dimitri 
Narychkine,  but,  though  Irma  is  nearly  of  age,  Stephan 
will  not  be  an  officer  of  the  White  Guards  ior  four  years 
yet!  The  dashing  page  and  cadet  knows  as  yet,  nothing 
of  business!  If  Irma  had  a  personal  fortune  out  of  the 
limits  of  Russia,  I  might  venture, — but  can  I  ask  her  to 
leave  the  glittering  ring  around  the  throne,  and  go  out 
hand  in  hand  with  me?  It  would  be  only  a  sad  Cindcr- 
rella  awakening!  No,  I  must  renounce  that  dream! — 

-  I  must!"— 

And  yet,  before  he  left  his  studio,  Arthur  Randolph 
bad  softly  raised  a  silken  curtain  which  hid  from  curious 
eyes,  the  serene  oeauty  of  unhappy  Beatrice  Maxutoff, 
the  splendid  loveliness  of  the  'Waiting'  wherein  Olga 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  383 

Orlof's  face  was  immortalized,    and    there,  below  these 
gazed  tenderly  on  the  Hebe  freshness   of    the  absent 
woman  he  loved, — once,  the  little  Princess  of  Alaska!— 
His  heart  swelled  in  a  lover's  bosom! 

He  saw  her,  before  his  ardent  artist  eyes,  as  the 
fairest  of  the  beauties  of  the  '  White  Room"1 ! 

But  he  kept  his  tryst! 

It  was  with  a  heavy  sigh  that  he  sank  down,  on  his 
arrival,  into  the  cushioned  velvet  chair,  of  the  boudoir 
to  which  the  old  Legation  butler  had  led  him!  The 
sound  of  fashion's  glittering  clans  gathering  in  joy  was 
wafted  to  him,  for  all  Dresden,  delighted  to  honor  the 
fascinating  Russian  aristocrate  who  swept  on  through 
life — a  graceful  conqueror! 

Randolph  sprang  up  in  an  ecstacy  of  delight,  as  Vera 
Narychkine  entering  unperceived  laid  her  gloved  hand 
on  his  arm!  Her  rich  robes,  the  glistening  jewels,  her 
provoking  attitude,  finger  on  lips,  the  proud,  smiling 
beauty  of  her  expressive  face,  were  a  realization  of  the 
highest  type  of  womanly  beauty!  "  Venus  Victrix!"ft& 
painter  cried.  "  I salute  you!" — and  before  he  had  drop 
ped  the  hand  raised  to  his  lips,  with  her  old  time  dash, 
Princess  Narychkine  gaily  motioned  him  to  her  side.— 

"Arthur,  you  bewitched  knight  errant!  I  have  but  a 
few  moments  to  give  you  here  alone\  Now,  spare  me! 
Do  not  tell  me  I  am  Greek  in  my  loveliness!  Leave 
that  for  the  swains  of  the  banal  salon  to-night.  I  go  to 
our  old  family  stronghold  for  a  few  weeks, — leaving 
to-morrow  evening,  so  that  I  may  see  our  noble  Olga 
before  the  'foreign  service'  takes  us  away  for  another  long 
period  of  six  years!  I  had  startling  news  here!  I  should 
otherwise  have  only  asked  you,  what  messages  I  should 
bear  to  Irma  and  Olga  for  you,  but  that,  last  night, 
Baron  de  Ribeaupierre,  Dimitri's  successor  at  Athens 
passed  here  on  his  way  south\  I  was  amazed  when  I 


7^4  THK    ''KlNCF.ss    OF    ALASKA. 

heard  him  say,  laughingly,  that  he  hoped  the  /vr.v/lady  of 
the  Legation  would  be  as  fortunate  and  popular  as 
myself!  Not  caring  to  hear  a  sugary  compliment,  I  was 
leaving,  when  in  answer  to  Dimitri's  question,  he 
replied:  'I  shall  first  present  my  credentials  as  min 
ister,  and,  after  my  audience  with  the  King,  at  once, 
make  a  formal  request  of  the  Czarina  for  the  hand  of 
Mademoiselle  Irma  Maxutoff !'  As  my  dear  dead  mother 
shared  the  Czarina's  palace  life,  in  her  early  ivcdded  da\s, 
I  have  no  doubt  but  that  the  Empress  will  accord  me 
the  hand  of  the  sweetest  girl  at  Court!  But  I  wish  the 
Empress  herself  to  break  the  ice  with  that  stately  Coun 
tess  Or/of  who,  as  first  favorite  and  the  inseparable 
friend  of  the  Czarina,  will  surely  not  refuse  our  gracious 
sovereign!  'Do  you  know  Princess  Irma?'  he  asked 
Dimitri.  'Only  enough  to  say  that  she  is  a  child  of 
heavenly  grace  and  a  delicate  noble  nature.'  Buc  my 
wife  is  most  tenderly  attached  to  her! '  ' 

Randolph  was  pacing  the  boudoir  in  a  sudden  agita 
tion!  The  mask  of  the  long  years  was  off! — The  stoic 
indifference  of  his  self-abnegation  vanished  ///  a  moment .' 

"  Who   is  this  Ribeaupierre?  "    he  gloomily  demanded. 

"Ah!  You  are  at  last  awakened!  The  bud  is  no 
longer  a  mere  blossom!  The  opening  flower  attracts 
keener  eyed  lovers! — De  Ribeaupierre  is  an  excellent 
parti!  Young,  handsome,  distinguished,  he  is  a  really 
exalted  character,  and  his  estate  in  Finland  is  the  hand- 
somcst  show  place  in  all  Russia!  A  man  who  will  go  up 
to  the  highest  stations!  " 

"You  need  not  extol  him  further!  I  see  that  he  has 
in  you,  a  powerful  ally." 

The  hollow  groan  of  the  artist  in  this  dismal  mono 
logue,  brought  only  a  ringing  peal  of  laughter  from  the 
teasing  diplomat! 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  385 

"I  thought  that  you  were  wedded  only  to  your  art!" 
she  answered  maliciously! 

"  Now,  do  not  be  ridiculous,  mon  ami,  you  should  be 
man  of  the  world  enough,  to  know  that  even  you  must 
not  presume  upon  the  unsolicited  affections  of  a  spirited 
girl!  If  Olga,  who  loves  you  deeply,  were  not  singly 
devoted  to  her  own  duties  with  the  Empress,  as  well  as 
to  that  wild  young  chief  of  our  clan,  Stephan,  who  is  a 
lively  enough  charge,  and  so  engrossed  by  the  singular 
friendship  of  the  Czarina,  she  would  have  warned  you 
herself!  But  young  and  beautiful  even  as  she  is,  still 
she  lives  in  Shadowland  yet,  with  my  poor  Uncle's 
memory!  It  is  a  needless  self-sacrifice!  "— 

"  The  dearest  dream  of  my  heart  is  to  see  Stephan  the 
star  of  our  young  chivalry; — Irma  also  must  be  made 
happy,  and  I  would  also  be  glad  to  see  Olga  finally 
yield  to  the  Empress'  entreaties!  General  Apraxin  will 
be  soon  made  Governor  General  of  Turkestan!  At 
Tashkend,  Countess  Olga  would  hold  almost  a  royal 
court!  Apraxin  has  laid  down  his  laurels  at  her  feet, 
and  begged  her  to  accept  the  Vice-regal  throne  of  Cen 
tral  Asia!  But  ardent,  loyal  and  mystic,  Olga  said  only: 
'  General  Apraxin,  let  me  cherish  the  wreath  of  your 
devotion  and  friendship  in  my  grateful  lie  art!  But  you 
are  worthy  of  an  affection  all  your  own!  Trust  to  me, 
my  friend,  when  I  say  that  a  woman  loves  but  once!'  " 

Vera  gazed  earnestly  at  Randolph  who  was  greatly 
agitated!  "Did//*,  too,  love  the  matchless  Olga?" 

"Now,  I  have  always  admired  you,  'my  American 
cousin!  '  Do  not  let  my  gay  Dimitri  know  of  this  reve 
lation!  For  De  Ribeaupierre  has  already  poured  out  his 
confidence  to  my  loyal  husband.  Dimitri  is  so  engrossed 
with  me"  the  mocking  beauty  cried,  "that  he  is  really 
blind  to  all  other  love!  I  warn  you  that  this  gallant 


386  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

diplomatic  suitor  is  so  thoroughly  unobjectionable,  that 
even  /,  could  not  advise  any  personal  opposition  to  his 
manly  and  open  suit!  But  I  know  that  you  love  this 
dainty  child,  and  I  warn  you — in  time!  Is  it  not  so?" 

Her  kindly  eyes  were  beaming!  — 

"  /  do!  I  must  not  lose  her!  "  replied  Randolph,  with 
an  air  of  tragic  earnestness.— 

"  Then,  be  ruled  by  me!  Let  me  be  the  fairy  godmother 
here!  Shake  off  the  Hamlet-like  sadness  which  un 
timely  warning  has  suddenly  cast  over  you!  A  voyage 
to  St.  Petersburg  will  teach  you  how  much  nature  has 
improved  even  your  veiled  picture!" 

Randolph  crimsoned.  Vera  Narychkine's  light  foot 
was  gaily  beating  in  time  with  the  exquisite  dreamy 
music  floating  through  the  great  hall  of  ceremony. 

"  Yes,  sir!  You  were  out  when  I  violated  the  temple 
of  your  Diana!  Now,  cease  your  useless  fetich  worship! 
I  now  invite  you  as  my  guest  to  sojourn  with  us  at  Peters 
burg  until  we  go  to  Washington!  You  must  come  or 
you  may  lose  Irma!  " 

Arthur  Randoph  sprang  to  his  feet.  His  ardent  lover 
soul  leaded  up  into  a  hopeful  activity!  Vera  Narychkine 
bit  her  lips. 

"  I  am  maladroite!  I  did  not  wish  to  tell  you  until 
the  Foreign  Office  had  gazetted  us!  But  I  shall  be  tl.e 
mistress  of  the  Russian  legation  in  your  own  strange  new 
land  for  the  next  six  years.  "- 

"/  have  a  plan!"  hastily  cried  Randolph.  "  I  sec 
that  there  must  be  no  thwarting  of  the  Czarina!  " 

In  an  humble  tone,  he  entreated: 

"Princess  Vera!  You  can  save  us  all!  Ask  Irma  to 
go  as  your  guest,  for  a  single  season!  I  can  persuade 
Countess  Olga  to  go  to  America  and  look  into  the  Ma\- 
tttoff  grants  then'  Her  own  boy's  interests  will  s\v,iv 


1'HE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  387- 

her!  In  this  way,  I  can  gain  time  to  teaeh  Irma  to  love 
me!  I  will  go  over  to  America!  Who  knows  what  the 
present  value  of  these  lands  and  privileges  may  be?  Will 
you  aid  me?" 

The  sound  of  laughing  voices  calling  on  the  fair  dip 
lomat  was  heard! 

Vera  frowned  in  mock  majesty. — 

"You  have  been  a  laggard  lover! — You  do  not  deserve 
it, — but  I  will  help  you,  Arthur!  Come  on  with  me  to 
St.  Petersburg, — and  the  fairy  godmother  shall  be  your 
steady  ally." 

"Do  you  think  that  Irma  loves  me?  "  ardently  cried 
Randoph,  covering  the  pretty  hand  with  grateful  kisses 
of  the  most  unjustifiable  warmth! — 

"I  think  that  is  a  question  which  you  should  ask  of 
the  young  lady  herself! — But  you  may  hope, — I  think! 
You  will  come  then?  " 

"I  have  been  blind, — -foolish!  Is  it  too  late?" — cried 
Randolph,  in  a  sudden  tumult  of  feeling,  as  the  graceful 
young  matron  vanished,  her  sweet  face  beaming  from 
the  door,  in  a  last  glance  of  malicious  mirth! 

"He  seems  to  be  awake  now  to  the  fact  that  he  has 
another  earthly  divinity  besides  the  pulseless  ideal  of  his 
art!"  And  Vera  Narychkine  resolutely  proceeded  to 
extend  her  personal  conquests,  into  unknown  regions', 
among  willing  legions  of  new  adrnirers! 

Randolph  fled  away  hastily  from  the  ball  and,  if  there 
had  been  ought  of  self-confidence,  in  his  past  relations 
with  Irma  Maxutoff,  —  the  sweet  unrest  of  his  dreams 
proved  that  the  little  Princess  of  Alaska  sat  upon  a 
throne  all  her  own,  in  his  awakened  heart!  His  trust  was 
great  in  the  all-compelling  Vera  Narychkine!  "That  is  a 
wonderful  woman!  A  modern  magician!  She  bends  all 


388  THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA. 

hearts  to  her  by  the  provoking  witchery  of  her  diamond 
intellect  and  ready  wit!  " 

Entered  into  the  race  for  the  lovely  prize,  Randolph 
became  a  squire  of  dames  at  a  single  bound!  A  telegram 
of  judiciously  veiled  words  to  Countess  Olga, —  a  sin 
gularly  formal  note  to  Princess  Irma,  the  rose  of  roses, — 
and  the  homage  of  a  superb  basket  of  flowers,  to  his 
spirited  feminine  adviser,  the  future  Ambassadress, — all 
these  were  signs  of  a  growing  cardiac  fever! 

His  joyous  whistle  of  his  old-time  student  songs 
echoed  through  the  vaulted  studio,  and  astonished  his 
subordinates,  as  he  hastily  made  preparations  to  leave 
his  sanctum  for  a  short  period! 

"I  will  not  be  away  long.'"  he  murmured,  as  he  swept 
a  few  private  sketches  and  some  personal  articles  into 
an  old  cabinet! — And  yet,  something  in  his  heart  told 
him  that  before  the  bright  conjurings  of  his  artist  brain 
would  "flit  palpably"  before  him,  there  again,  the 
answer  of  Irma  Maxutoff's  eyes  would  tell  him  whether 
the  heart  hidden  longing  of  years  would  be  attained! 
"  But  one  thing  want  these  banks  of  Rhine,  thy  gentle 
hand  to  clasp  in  mine!'' — He  suddenly  ceased  Byroniz- 
ing,  as,  with  a  breezy  clatter,  Hugh  Wilde,  gentlest  and 
kindest  of  the  sons  of  Anak,  a  bad  artist,  but  a  good  fel 
low,  burst  into  the  room. — 

"  Hello!  What's  this?  Packing  up!  Stop  it,  I  say! 
Arthur!  I  have  great  news  for  you! — "Take  a  pipe! 
Sit  down!  Collect  your  thoughts!  And  be  sensible!'1' 
Arthur  replied.  "I  am  only  going  to  take  a  run  of  two 
or  three  weeks,  on  a  sketching  tour  to  the  Baltic!"  Ran 
dolph  dissembled,  for  he  would  not  let  his  bantering 
friend  even  dream  that  he  sallied  forth  to  the  chase  of 
the  "fair  dove,  — the  fond  </<>:•<•/" — "You  must  stop  all 
this!  I  left  Bradford,  the  great  California  millionaire, 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    MASKA.  389 

at  the  Club!  He  says  that  he  is  *:>i  old  friend  of  \ours! — 
Tremendously  rich  fellow!  Gold  mines  and  things  at  the 
North  Pole!  He  is  coming  down  here  to  see  you  now!1'' 

"Ah!"  Randolph  suddenly  dropped  a  handful  of 
sketches!  "Paul  Bradford!  The  man  who  was  once  a 
great  newspaper  power  out  west! — Is  he  here?"  The 
words  l gold  mine  '  brought  back  Paul's  strange  quest  at 
Sitka!  "Why!  Yes!"  rattled  on  Hugh.  "He's  no  end 
of  a  financial  swell  now!  And  Goupil  has  been  nursing 
him  at  Paris!  He  had  letters  from  them  to  me!  I  wish 
that  he  would  buy  my  "  Spartacus  and  the  Gladiators!" 
Do  you  know  that  he  married  the  widow  of  some  rich 
Pacific  Coast  Senator,  and  thus  fell  into  an  enermouf 
property!" 

"Oh!  I  see  now!  'Funeral  baked  meats  did  coldly 
furnish  forth,  etc.,  etc.,'  "  replied  Randolph,  lightly.— 
"  I  must  see  that  man!  Gold-mines!  He  may  know  of 
Treasure  Island!'  Could  I  trust  him?  Success  has  sim 
ply  fastened  his  egoism,  I  suppose,  with  diamond  rivets! 
What  does  he  want  of  me?" 

"He  wishes  one  of  your  famous  portraits!  Of  the  Sena 
tor's  widow,  the  well  preserved  architect  of  the  fortunes 
of  the  House  of  Bradford!  So  he  said!  He  glories  as 
an  American  in  your  great  name]  Now,  Arthur,"  and 
Hugh  sobered  down,  "I  would  like  to  exchange  my 
'  Spartacus  '  for  visible  coin  of  the  realm!  Don't  forget 
me!  There  they  come! — He  has  a  stately  follow  ing  I  " 

"He  shall  certainly  take  away  your  revolted  profes 
sional  fighter!  That  is,  if  /  can  educate  him!  " 

Arthur  glanced  around,  but  Hugh  had  discreetly  van 
ished!  He  knew  every  secret  of  the  quaint,  old  den  to 
which  Randolph  clung,  as  the  theatre  of  his  early  heart 
struggles! 

"This    visit    means  something!      Let    me    see! — It    is 
25 


3QO  THE    PRINCESS   OF   ALASKA. 

twelve  years  since  we  met!"  and  Randolph,  armed  in  his 
mind,  was  gravely  dignified  as  he  met  the  man  whose 
adverse  fortunes  had  so  strangely  prospered! — It  was///<r 
same  Bradford,  but  now  set  in  the  decorous  solidity  of  a 
middle-aged  '  First  Citizen!' 

As  Paul  presented  his  wife,  Arthur  rapidly  inventoried 
the  surroundings  of  the  favored  child  of  the  fickle 
goddess.  "A  neutral  shade!"  he  thought,  as  he  observed 
the  deferential  pride  of  the  late  Senator's  widow,  now  an 
appendage  of  the  stern,  decisive  Bradford!  Her  staff 
was  a  hollow-eyed  woman  relative!  "  The  usual  depend 
ent!"  fancied  the  artist, — there  was  a  Secretary,  (a 
standing  advertisement),  and  also  a  glib  courier  who 
spread  his  lack  of  knowledge  over  many  subjects  in  differ 
ent  places! —  "The  financial  lion  and  his  train  of  smaller 
animals!" 

Randolph  admired  the  perfect  self-possession  of  the 
journalist  capitalist,  who  frankly  explained,  in  a  few 
words,  his  desire  to  obtain  a  portrait  of  Mrs.  Bradford. 

After  the  usual  visit  of  inspection,  Paul  Bradford 
turned  from  a  close  inspection  of  Randolph's  boyish 
Sitka  sketches. 

"Do  you  do  anything  in  landscape  now?  "  he  asked. 

"Yes;  but  only  as  a  diversion!  I  do  not  have  the  time 
for  natural  studies!  "  the  artist  replied. 

"These  are  wonderful 7"  said  Bradford.  "I  go  up 
there  every  year  now  to  look  at  my  mine!  The  toicn  is 
very  little  changed!" 

"Are  there  mines  in  Alaska, — gold  mines?"  queried 
Arthur,  turning  away  his  face,  for  his  voice  quivered!— 

"Our  company  has  the  largest  gold  mill  in  the  7iw/</up 
there!  Two  hundred  and  fifty  stamps  hammering  away 
night  and  day  on  Douglas  Island!  It  is  the  greatest 
quartz  mine  known!" 


THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA.  3QI 

"  I  never  heard  of  a  gold  mine  on  an  island!  What  is  it 
like  ? "  The  blood  was  eagerly  racing  through  the 
artist's  veins! 

"Oh!"  Paul  turned  to  Randolph,  "It  is  only  a  small, 
bare,  green  island,  high  and  hump-shaped,  like  a  camel's 
back!  A  few  straggling  pines  cover  the  ravines,  and 
the  ore  so  near  it  is  tumbled  right  into  the  mills!  It  is 
a  wonder!" 

Bradford  proudly  thought  of  the  half  million  dollars  a 
year,  divided  now  among  the  survivors  of  the  "Asso 
ciates!" 

"I  consolidated  two  interests!"  he  reflected,  his  mind 
reverting  to  the  far-away  mound  where  the  defunct  Sen 
ator  now  lay  under  a  marble  obelisk,  bearing  the  most 
complimentary  excerpts  from  that  great  man's  too  brief 
career. 

Arthur  Randolph  had  recognized  at  once  the  careless 
descriptions  of  the  lost  island  of  Maxutoff  and  murdered 
Orlof  !  He  had  carefully  examined,  long  years  before, 
all  the  papers  now  lying  neglected  in  the  Imperial  Bank 
at  St.  Petersburg!  He  drew  his  breath  hard  as  he 
thought  of  Irma's  stolen  heritage, — of  plundered  Olga 
Orlof, — of  the  fatherless  Stephan,  and  of  the  dark 
treachery  which  lured  Maxutoff  to  his  death! 

" My  God!  I  remember  now!  This  man  spent  nights 
with  Zubow  on  his  ship!"  And  the  artist  mentally 
promised  he  would  make  a  test  of  Bradford's  nerves 
later! — But  he  now  only  calmly  said: — "I  presume  that 
you  purchased  the  mine  after  /  left  Alaska!  Did  you 
ever  find  your  man  ' French  Pete"1  ?"• 

The  millionaire  started  and  cast  a  piercing  glance  at 
the  unconscious  artist! 

"Oh!  He  died  later,  years  afterward,  at  the  mine!" 
finally  replied  Paul.  "  He  wandered  all  around  the  Arc- 


392  'I  HI.     IK!    , 

//?,  and  Caldwell,  our  agent,  at  last  bought  out  •  French 
^'  title  for  four  hundred  dollars!  He-  was  a  half 
crazed  drunkard! — The  mine  was  really  discovered  on 
grants  of  land  belonging  to  my  wife's  firit  husband! — I 
have  improved  and  developed  //,  among  other  Alaskan 
interests! " 

"Just  a  bit  too  pompons!"  fancied  Randolph,  in  whose 
heart  a  sudden  vow  was  registered.  He  watched  Brad 
ford  keenly! — He  reflected,  "  I  will  go  to  Russia!  I 
will  get  the  papers  from  Olga!  I  will  then  go  on  to 
Washington!  I  will  secretly  examine  these  famous 
grants  of  the  late  Statesman! — If  there  should  be  a 
chance  to  establish  the  Russian  patent!  But  I  must 
work  in  silence!  I  will  have  to  hoodwink  this  fellow! 
Yes;  I  will  paint  that  portrait!  And  he  shall  also  buy 
'Spartacus ' ! 

This  artistic  vengeance  as  to  Wilde's  dreadful  canvas 
was  a  fitting  reward  for  much  past  iniquity!  But  the 
"mills  of  the  gods"  do  grind  at  last! 

"  I  am  going  away  for  a  fortnight,  Mr.  Bradford,  and 
if  it  would  not  disarrange  your  plans,  I  could  give  your 
wife  her  sittings  later!" 

"  We  shall  be  in  Dresden  a  whole  month,  and  you  will 
find  me,  at  your  disposal,  if  I  wait  here  even  another 
month!"  cried  the  delighted  relict  of  the  wary  Senator. 
"  If  you  will  kindly  come  and  breakfast  with  us  to-day, 
we  can  easily  arrange  our  future  plans! " 

Arthur  saw  his  good  angel  beckoning  him  on! 

Bradford  was  so  decorously  urgent  in  seconding  bis 
wife,  that  Arthur  finally  sent  a  few  lines  to  his  fairy  god 
mother]  A  sudden  thought  had  seized  him,  as  he  saw 
the  millionaire's  party  eagerly  regarding  the  silken  cur 
tain  veiling  his  hidden  treasures!  He  drew  the  cord 
and  then  narrowly  watched  Paul  Bradford's  face,  in 
silence! 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  393 

"  Ah!  How  lovely!  Who  is  this  exquisitely  beautiful 
woman?"  Mrs.  Bradford  enthusiastically  cried. — 

"  Why,  that  is  old  Baranoff  Castle!"  eagerly  said  Paul 
Bradford,  stepping  quickly  forward. — That  is  surely  the 
Russian  Countess, — the  mysterious  beauty!  Where  is  she 
now?  I  thought  that  she  was  dead! — Eben  Tomlinson 
sought  vainly  for  her  at  St.  Petersburg!  He  could  gain 
no  news  of  her." — 

"I  painted  the  lady  some  years  ago,  on  her  return 
from  Sitka!" — quietly  returned  Randolph.  "The  pic 
ture  has  made  a  great  success  under  its  title  of  '  Wait 
ing!  '  It  was  at  the  Paris  salon!" 

The  millionaire  was  keenly  regarding  the  artist. 

"The  Princess  Maxutoff, — excellent — excellent!  And 
who  is  this  beautiful  girl?  ^ 

Bradford  seemed  lost  in  wonderment! — 

"It  is  her  daughter, —  once  the  pretty  child  whom 
they  called  <  the  little  Princess  of  Alaska!'"— 

"Strange!  Strange!"  murmured  Bradford.  "They 
are  both  dead, — the  parents.  A  very  sad  story!  I  heard 
it  in  America  from  my  partner,  Phillippi." 

Arthur  Randolph's  blood  boiled  at  the  cool  insolence, 
with  which  the  triumphant  schemer  gazed  at  the  pic 
tured  victims  of  the  unpunished  rascality  of  years!  He 
swore  an  oath  deep  in  his  heart,  as  he  let  the  silken 
veiling  fall! 

"If  there  is  any  joint  in  your  armor,  my  wily  friend, 
I  will  thrust  home,  for  Irma  Maxutof  s  sake!  By  Jove! 
I  will  confide  in  Dimitri!  I  will  go  direct  by  steam  from 
Cronstadt  to  Hamburg,  and  then  examine  the  Washing 
ton  records,  while  this  villain  is  disporting  himself!  " 

"But  where  are  his  fellow  scoundrels? — Are  Tomlin 
son  and  Phillippi  still  interested  in  the  Arctic?"  care 
lessly  asked  the  artist  as  they  descended  the  stair, 


394  ''  I{K    PRINCE  >S    OF    ALASKA. 

"Oh!  yes;  Eben  manages  the  whole  business  of  the 
associates  at  San  Francisco!  And  Phillippi  is  now  on 
his  annual  inspecting  tour." 

"Then,  the  coast  is  clear!"  mused  Arthur,  as  he  en 
tered  the  landau.  "I  will  have  some  of  the  Admiral's 
old  coast  survey  officers  copy  the  maps  and  papers.  I 
can  hold  this  family  here  in  Europe,  waiting  for  the 
portrait,  thanks  to  the  ladfs  fancy, —  and  I  will  win  if 
Dimitri  will  only  help  inc.'  "  — 

"  By  heaven!  The  Emperors  tenth!  Yes!  He  can 
demand  a  hearing  of  the  State  Department!  The  dan 
gerous  Senator  is  dead!  Ah!  The  fairy  Godmother 
shall  help  me  here!  If  I  can  force  a  recognition  of  the 
grant,  then,  I  can  demand  of  Countess  Olga  some  recom 
pense!" 

He  thought  of  the  little  hand,  which  trembled  as  it 
lay  in  his  own  at  the  parting! — 

"Do  you  spend  much  of  your  time  at  the  mine?" 
Randolph  asked,  as  the  carriage  drove  up  to  the  hotel. 

"I  go  up  occasionally  and  take  a  look. — We  have  a 
comfortable  bungalow  there.  But  I  am  not  needed. 
The  output  is  regular.  I  have  some  splendid  photo 
graphs  of  the  whole  location  and  its  varied  scenery. — It 
is  exquisitely  beautiful!  " 

"Are  you  not  ever  annoyed  by  American  miners, — 
prospectors?"  Randolph  questioned. 

"Not  a  bit!  We  have  things  all  our  own  way!  We 
have  developed  the  real  resources  of  Alaska!  Even  the 
Government  recognizes  what  we  have  done!  " 

Arthur  grimly  set  his  teeth,  as  he  vowed  to  have 
things  another  way, — if  the  gracious  fairy  Godmother 
would  aid! 

"Ah!"  he  smiled.  "The  gay  queen  of  hearts  will 
give  me  carte  blanche!  For  the  new  Russian  Minister  at 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  395 

Washington  will  be  a  great  personage, — and  he  will  act 
under  the  all-compelling  spell  of  Vera  Narychkine,  the 
imperious! ' ' — 

When  it  was  agreed,  after  the  dejeuner,  that  the 
wished  for  portrait  would  be  the  next  serious  work  of 
the  famous  artist. — Mrs.  Bradford  retired  jubilant,  leav 
ing  the  gentlemen  to  their  cigars. 

"  Your  plan  will  suit  us,  exactly!"  the  dowager  gra 
ciously  said.  "  We  will  now  extend  our  tour  to  South 
Germany  and  Italy,  and  on  your  return  from  your  vaca 
tion,  we  will  stay  later  here  in  Dresden, — until  you  need 
me  no  more!  " — 

Arthur  admired  the  detailed  views  which  the  million 
aire  exhibited  to  his  eager  gaze  of  the  beautiful  scenery 
of  Lynn  Canal. 

"Ah!  here  is  the  best  one!"  proudly  said  Bradford. — 
"I  can  give  you  a  whole  set  of  these! — For  I  find  I 
have  duplicates!  This  is  the  island,  and  our  mill  and  its 
romantic  water  frontage!  "  — 

The  "high  green  island,  bare,  with  its  scattered  pine 
trees,"  was  there,  and  the  picture  trembled  strangely  in 
Arthur's  eager  hand! 

"Exquisite!  "     A  witching  scene!  he  murmured. 

"By  the  way,  Randolph!"  sharply  broke  in  Paul; 
"where  is  that  daughter  of  the  Maxutoffs?  Do  you 
know?" 

"I  have  lost  sight  of  them,  for  some  years!**  steadily 
answered  the  painter,  as  he  looked  squarely  in  Brad 
ford's  eyes. 

The  millionaire  was  uneasy.  He  fingered  the  views, 
as  if  some  haunting  shadows  were  flitting  over  his  mem 
ory.  Arranging  a  complete  set  of  photographs  for  the 
artist,  he  absently  spoke  to  himself: 

"  I  should  like  a  good  picture  of  the  greatest  gold  mine 
in  the  world!" 


396  iHF    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

He  observed  Randolph  attentively  studying  the  mem 
ory  haunted  scenes! 

"  Could  you  paint  this  particular  view  you  approve  so 
much,  from  your  memory  of  the  local  colors,  and  aided 
by  this  picture?  " 

"Certainly!"  smiled  Randolph.  It  is  hardly  high 
art,—  but"  — 

"Never  mind!  I  wish  a  masterpiece,  if  you  can  create 
one.  Call  this  my  order!  I  will  give  you  carte  blanche,  and 
take  the  picture,  whenever  you  can  send  it!  The  island 
has  made  my  fortune,  and  I  can  never  forget  it!" — 

"And  /  intend  that  you  never  shall!"  thought  Ran 
dolph,  as  he  took  his  leave.  "My  new  order  suits  me 
exactly!"  he  gaily  said  at  parting! — 

"Fortune  favors  the  brave!  "  laughed  Vera  Narych- 
kine,  when  Randolph  recounted  all  to  her.  The  artist 
was  all  ready  for  the  road. 

"  You  must  take  O/ga  at  once  into  your  confidence;  we 
will  together  manage  to  delay  the  marriage  offer  of  de 
Ribeaupierre!  }<>//inust  get  all  the  deeds  and  papers!  You 
can  then  run  over  to  Washington,  verify  the  entire  facts, 
and,  if  the  Russian  Minister  can  not  enforce  the  Czar's 
rights  and  save  our  Irma's  dowry,  /  will  not  call  him  my 
husband! — Yes;  Her  dowry  shall  be  saved!  They  would 
never  dare  to  face  exposure! — For  the  American  Gov 
ernment  might  then  declare  the  patent  of  their  lands  void."' 

"And  Irma's  love?"  cried  Arthur. 

"That  is  a  delicate  subject  for  you  alone  to  investigate, 
when  she  is  my  guest  at  Washington!  "  laughed  beauti 
ful  Yera.  "  For  when  you  have  finished  this  portrait  of 
Madame  the  Millionaire,  and  made  the  island  glow  on 
your  canvas  for  your  old  secret  enemy,  Bradford,  you 
may  come.  Sir,  to  the  Russian  Legation  at  Washing 
ton."— 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  397 

"  I  will  guarantee  you  that  you  will  find  Olga,  Stephan 
and  also  your  Irma  there  for  a  visit  to  signalize  my  social 
debut  under  the  Stars  and  Stripes!  The  Empress  will 
deny  me  nothing,  and  I  shall  artfully  ask  that  Cadet 
Count  Stephan  be  given  a  leave  of  absence  too,  and 
bring  them  all  over!  That  will  cut  off  the  sighing  Rus 
sian  swains  from  annoying  your  Irma!  But, — Arthur,— 
not  one  word, — even  to  Dimitri,  about  the  results  of  your 
flying  trip!  For,  if  the  fact  were  known  that  the  Emperor 
had  rights  also  (the  tenth),  the  island  question  might 
pass  out  of  Dimitri' 's  hands!  We  will  face  them  all  at 
Washington,  these  Yankee  schemers,  and  I  will  see  that 
the  Empress  aids  me  as  far  as  she  can!  " — 

"Vera,  you  are  an  angel!"  cried  Arthur,  as  he  kissed 
her  pretty  hand. 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA. 


CHAPTER  XV. 
ARTHUR  RANDOLPH'S  DISCOVERY — THE  TREATY — A  VISITING 

PRINCESS — THE  YOUNG  CHIEF  OF  THE  ORLOFS — AT  THE 

LEGATION  BALL THE  EMPEROR'S  TENTH PAUL 

BRADFORD'S  OLIVE  BRANCH — THE  PRINCESS  OF 

ALASKA'S  DOWER — COUNTESS  OLGA  MAKES 

A  PRESENT — A  CLEAR  TITLE  ! 

Ten  days  after  Paul  Bradford  had  given  the  artist  lover 
his  carte  blanche  for  the  landscape  of  Golden  Island,  a 
serious  conference  was  finished  at  the  Orlof  mansion  in 
St.  Petersburg,  when  Randolph  said  to  Countess  Olga 
and  the  over-joyed  ambassadress: 

"I  am  now  ready  to  start  for  Washington!  There 
remains  nothing  further  for  me  to  do  here.  The  lawyer 
has  finished  all  his  researches,  and  /  will,  therefore,  take 
the  steamer  for  Hamburg  to-morrow!  So,  I  can  continue 
my  voyage  from  there,  unobserved,  to  Washington. 
When  I  have  seen  the  legal  records  at  the  national 
capital,  I  shall  at  once,  return  to  Dresden,  via  England! 
In  this  way,  even  Bradford  can  find  no  apparent  method, 
in  my  movements!  "- 

"Are  you  really  all  ready,  Arthur?"  Madame  Olga 
asked  with  a  smile,  as  she  saw  the  very  prettiest  of  the 
Empress  rosebuds  circling  by  the  library  door,  in  an 
attempt  to  improve  the  waltzing  of  Cadet  Count  Orlof! 
The  great  hall  was  their  improvised  ball  room. 

"  Have  you  told Irma  yet?"  maliciously  remarked  Vera 
Narychkine,  as  the  artist  blushed  and  bowed.— 

"Not  yet!  I  thought" — stammered  Randolph,  "that 
you  would  bring  up,  at  our  last  dinner,  the  subject  of 
our  future  reunion  at  Washington!  Does  not  Irma  know 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  399 

that  Countess  Olga  and  young  Stephan  will  grace  your 
first  Grand  Ball  at  the  Russian  Legation?" 

He  was  very  anxious.  The  room  seemed  strangely 
warm  to  him  ! 

"  I  didte\\  her  that"  cheerfully  rejoined  Vera,  "but, 
as  to  you,  I  supposed  that  you  had  announced  to  her, 
that  after  finishing  the  Alaskan  millionaire's  orders,  you 
would  close  your  studio  and  return  to  study  the  marvels 
of  American  art  in  Washington!  Those  contract  statues, 
— so  satisfactory  to  the  brass  founder  and  stone  cutter! 
Those  singularly  alarming  pictured  presentments  of  the 
most  remarkable  looking  men,  in  scenes  of  varied 
national  convulsion!  But  perhaps  you  were  wise  after  all, 
— for  De  Ribeaupierre  himself  returns  to-morrow!  So 
Dimitri  tells  me!  He  will,  of  course,  see  the  Empress  at 
once,"— 

For  once  in  his  life,  Arthur  Randolph  was  not  gallant, 
— in  fact,  he  never  heard  the  remainder  of  Madame 
Narychkine's  delightfully  malicious  remarks!  A  sweet 
voice  called  him  to  his  feet,  as  Irma  Maxutoff,  the  Prin 
cess  of  Alaska,  with  her  lovely  face  eager  in  excitement, 
clasped  her  jewelled  fingers  around  his  arm. 

"Cousin  Arthur!  You  surely  are  not  going  away? 
What  is  this  that  Stephan  says?  Why!  We  have  only 
begun  my  lessons!  I  am  to  be  the  only  great  Court  Artist.  "— 

"We  must  finish  our  studies  then  in  the  spring,— 
at  Washington! "  said  Randolph,  appealing  vaguely  to 
the  two  matrons,  who  had  now  walked  to  the  other  end 
of  the  great  library. 

But  Vera  Narychkine  seemed  strangely  intent  on 
explaining  a  wonderful  old  line  engraving  of  "Joseph 
and  his  Brethren," — which  had  suddenly  become  an  object 
of  great  interest  to  Madame  Orlof! 

When  the   ladies  had   finished  their  crucial  examina- 


400  III)     PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

tion  of  t/us  marvel  cf  art,  —  the  anxious  artist  and  the 
Maid  of  Honor  had  mysteriously  disappeared!  The  ser 
vice  of  tea  at  eleven  o'clock  brought  Madame  Narych- 
kine  to  an  obscure  corner  of  the  drawing  rooms,  with 
some  classic  stock  remarks  about  "beauty  sleep!" 

As  Irma  Maxutoff  stood  on  the  stair,  and  merrily  bade 
the  others  "Good  Night,"  she  shyly  turned,  a  vision  of 
glowing  beauty,  and  even  Arthur  Randolph,  lost  in  love's 
dream,  noted  the  gentle  earnestness  of  the  voice  with 
which  she  faltered  her  adieu  to  him:  "It  seems  so 
f/raflgv,— that  you  are  going  away — now! 

"Olga!"  cheerfully  whispered  Vera  Narychkine,  as 
she  threw  her  arms  around  her  loving  friend  when  they 
parted,  in  her- boudoir,  "I  fancy  that  we  need  not  fear 
De  Ribeaupierre's  coming!  " 

And  the  stately  beauty,  known  now  as  "the  wonder 
ful  Countess  Orlof," — of  the  marble  heart, — (so  sighed 
her  unsuccessful  lovers)  laughed  as  she  said:  "Irma  has 
discovered  at  last  that  she  has  a  heart!" 

There  was  in  fact,  very  little  fear  of  this  particular 
handsome  young  Russian  Lochinvar  lingering  in  Arthur 
Randolph's  breast,  as  heneared  New  York,  after  a  terrific 
winter  voyage.  For,  though  the  stars  of  heaven  were 
hidden  by  gray  wrack  and  leaden  skies,  in  his  heart,  the 
twin  stars  of  Irma  Maxutoff's  eyes  bade  him  "Wait  and 
Hope!"— 

"I  will  not  ask  her  to  join  her  life  with  mine,  until  I 
have  made  these  cold,  sly  schemers  disgorge  their 
precious  plunder,  torn  from  this  gentle  orphan!"  — 

"  \\'hat  a  mystery  —  the  North  Pacific!"  mused  Ran 
dolph,  as  he  examined  the  superb  pictured  scenery  of 
the  fiords  of  Holy  Cross  Sound.  "The  greed  and  craft 
of  the  Yankee  miner  supplements  to-day,  the  dark  schemes 
of  the  old  time  Russian///;-  speculator!  It  is  gold  now  — 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  40! 

magic  gold, — which  will  make  every  silent  recess  of 
Alaska's  canons  and  river  gorges  echo  to  the  step  of  the 
indomitable  prospector.  One  hundred  years  ago,  it  was 
the  search  for  fur!  What  a  history!  Greed,  lust,  war, 
butchery  and  drunkenness  followed  hardy  Tchirikoff's 
discovery  of  the  new  court  fur,  the  priceless  sea  otter,  in 
1741 — when  he  returned  to  Avatcha  Bay  with  a  load  of 
the  mysterious  ' mandarin'  furs — then  so  called!  For  the 
few  samples  which  had  reached  the  crowned  heads  of 
Europe  up  to  that  time,  were  rare  diplomatic  presents  of 
the  great  nobles  of  China!  They  were  animal  stragglers, 
caught  on  the  Kurile  Islands,  or  off  Korea!  But,  as  the 
chase  of  the  little  sable  led  the  Cossack  robbers  on 
towards  Khamschatka,  across  Asia,  —  so,  from  the  lone 
peninsula  of  Khamschatka,  the  news  of  Tchirikoff's  find 
of  the  rich  furs  aroused  Russian  greed!" 

Emilian  Bassof, — building  the  <  Kapiton '  at  the 
Siberian  Avatcha  Bay, — ventured  out,  to  return  richly 
laden  with  sixteen  hundred  otter,  two  thousand  seal  and 
nearly  three  thousand  precious  blue  fox  skins  !  A  king's 
ransom  !  Fast  then,  followed  after  him,  the  hardy  mar 
auders, — daring  all; — for  the  'fur  craze'  was  now  on! 
Fictitious  values  were  set  then  on  the  otters,  since  kept 
up,  though  sixty  thousand  sea  otter  skins  were  later  gar 
nered  at  one  time  in  the  store  house  of  one  robber  company ! 
When  Stephen  Glottof,  even  a  greater  robber, — built  the 
"Yulian'  and  crossed  the  Behring  Sea,  in  1759,  he 
stumbled  on  Nagounalaska  Island,  with  its  bay  of  otters! 
He  little  dreamed  when  he  landed  on  the  Aleutian  Islands, 
wreathed  in  their  perpetual  fogs,  that  within  a  hundred 
miles,  a  herd  of  fur  seals  worth  millions  of  dollars 
awaited  the  butchers  of  the  future,  in  lazy  basking  on 
the  sandy  beaches  of  lonely  St.  George  and  St.  Paul 
Islands!  But,  on  these  three  little  rocks,  not  ten  miles 


/j.02  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

long,  the  unreaped  riches  of  nature  were  destined  to  be 
a  future  prize  for  the  corsair  and  the  speculator,  and  to 
embroil  the  wiseacre  diplomats  of  three  great  countries!— 
Captain  Cook,  in  the  'Resolution'  and  'Discovery'!— 
missed  these  floating  millions,  —  as  did  Marline,  the 
Castilian  sailor,  later,  though  in  1778  and  1787,  they 
both  claimed  abandoned  Unalaska,  the  one  for  the  King 
of  England,  and  the  other,  in  the  name  of  His  Sacred 
Spanish  Majesty! 

But,  ten  years  later  great  Alexander  Baranoff  grasped 
Alaska  for  the  Russian  Crown.  Quick-witted,  he  real 
ized  at  once  that  the  immense  swarms  of  fur  seal  had 
some  annual  rendezvous!  The  secret  of  the  fur  seals' 
natural  habits  remain  even  to-day  unsolved!  They  van 
ish  now,  for  half  the  year,  as  completely  as  in  the 
twenty  years  when  sly  old  Baranoff  used  their  skins  as  a 
"floating  bank  currency"  When  the  rapacity  of  his 
hunters  thinned  out  the  nearest  seals,  and  also  drove  off 
the  shy  sea  otters,  a  shipwrecked  Aleut,  storm-driven  in 
his  kayak,  told  Baranoff  on  his  return,  of  the  foggy 
island  with  its  thousands  on  thousands,  of  fur  seal! 

With  true  Russian  craft,  the  great  Governor  decided 
to  find  the  little  island,  which  the  native  fancifully 
called  ttAmik/}t  The  natives,  although  expert  in  the 
natural  history  of  all  other  Arctic  animals,  fancied  that 
there  was  an  enchantment  in  the  spot  loward  which, 
from  May  to  November,  countless  myriads  of  fur  seals 
swarmed,  making  the  waters  alive  as  they  played  on  the 
surface! — And,  from  November  to  May,  the  cold,  foggy 
seas  were  bare  of  even  a  single  fur  seal!  The  sandy 
shores  lay  all  deserted  and  silenl!  Ignorant  of  the 
habits  of  the  valuable  animals,  really  seeking  the 
unbroken  silence  of  the  great  sandy  beaches  of  the 
Komandorski  and  Prybiloff  group,  to  breed  m&  train  their 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  4^3 

young; — the  superstitious  Aleuts  thought  the  seal  army 
worshiped  their  own  god  at  the  Island  of  Amik,  which 
no  mortal  man  would  ever  see  again!  But  this  return 
ing  Aleut,  led  thither  by  the  God  of  the  Storms,  was 
finally  discredited! — A  case  of  traveler's  tales!  Yet, 
the  aspiring  and  educated  Baranoff  guarded  all  the 
gossipy  secrets!  He  forced  the  natives,  though  ignor 
ant  of  navigation,  to  guide  several  expeditions  which 
he  had  sent  out  from  1781  to  1786! 

Some  peculiarity  of  the  animal,  or  an  exceptionally 
favorable  refuge,  alone,  explained  to  him  a  mystery,  yet 

partially  unsolved  to-day. But,  by  dint  of  cruising  in 

every  direction,  Prybiloff,  the  Governor's  confidant,  in 
1786,  landed,  at  last,  on  the  fabulous  "Amik", — finding 
merely  a  fog-hidden  island,  which  he,  at  once,  occupied, 
—giving  to  it  the  name  of  his  ship,  "St.  George,"  and 
ultimately  finding  the  companion  rock,  "St.  Paul!"  On 
these  two  islands,  not  fifty  square  miles  in  extent,  Bara- 
noff's  men  the  next  year,  easily  killed  a  half  million  fur 
seals!  Five  millions  of  dollars  in  value  was  the  catch  of  the 
first  season !  The  great  Viceroy  protected  the  two  islands 
long  known  as"Baranoff's  Bank,"  and  it  was  only  after  he 
was  drowned  on  his  homeward  voyage,  his  great  wealth 
perishing  with  him,  that  the  unlicensed  butchery  of  the 
wonderful  animals  began!  In  1805  the  Czar  regulated 
the  cruel  slaughter,  and  forty  thousand  a  year  only  were 
taken  up  to  1865!  — 

"  What  a  coincidence 7"  thought  Randolph,  who  had 
learned  at  Petersburg  every  secret  of  the  royal  archives, 
and  had  studied  the  huge  musty  folios  of  the  Imperial 
laws  and  records!  "  Baranoff 'was  drowned,  and  his  vast 
fortune  whelmed  in  the  cruel  sea!  Maxutoff  betrayed 
and  sacrificed,  and  the  Emperor's  tribute  stolen!  A 
vengeance  of  providence  seems  to  follow  the  unpunished 


404  THK  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

brutalities  of  the  cruel  Russians,  in  the  Arctic!  And, 
now,  for  twenty  years,  the  associates  are  allowed  to  take 
a  hundred  thousand  a  year  in  American  waters  alone  ! — 
Between  the  greed  of  the  Russian  and  American  con 
tractors,  and  the  robberies  of  the  Arctic  corsairs,  under 
every  flag,  the  sea  bear  or  eared  sea!  is  doomed !  " 

"Strange  theatre  of  dark  deeds  without  a  name!  The 
lawless  North  Pacific!"  cried  Randolph.  "Andjr/,  it  has 
been  the  nursery  of  great  wen .'  The  simple  Greek  mis 
sionary,  Innocentius  Veniaminoff,  who  lived  therein  the 
native  huts,  clad  as  an  Aleut,  in  1825, — became  the  Bishop 
of  Alaska,  and  later  the  Metropolitan  of  Moscow!  He  was 
then  the  only  man  in  the  world  to  whom  Russia's  haughty 
Czar,  the  lord  of  sixty  realms  bowed  his  head  in  humble 
contrition!  And  to  what  future  use  will  the  princes  of 
Alaska,  these  banded  Russian  and  American  schemers, 
put  their  wealth  gleaned  from  the  floating  millions  of  fur 
seal  and  from  the  golden  island,  robbed  from  the 
orphaned  Princess  !  " 

It  was  easy  for  Arthur  Randolph  to  foresee  that  in 
1890,  even  the  sleepy  "Uncle  Sam,"  would  wake  up  and 
cut  down  the  slaying  of  the  helpless  seal  to  twenty  or 
thirty  thousand  a*  year  to  prevent  their  final  extinction! — 
He  easily  divined  that  Russia,  England  and  the  United 
States  would,  in  time,  quarrel  bitterly  over  the  robbery 
of  Nature's  wonderful  marine  army,  clad  in  this  raiment 
of  price.— 

"But,"  he  swore  with  a  heart  beating  for  plundered 
Irma's  past  sufferings,  "by  her  murdered  father's  honest 
memory, — these  wretches  who  have  enjoyed  the  'golden 
island'  shall  acknowledge  her  claims,  admit  Olga's 
rights  and  return  the  heritage  of  young  Count  Orlof! — 
For,  if  /  live  to  face  them,  with  the  records  and  Russian 
patents,  they  must  share  the  golden  gleanings  of  these 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  405 

last  years,  and  also  settle   with  the    Imperial   Crown  of 
Russia  for  its  reserved  tenth  !  " 

As  Randolph  sped  to  Washington,  on  safely  arriving, 
he  dreamed  of  the  coming  final  acknowledgment  of  the 
title,  and  that,  shining  on  him  were  the  eyes  from  which 
he  had  drank  the  delicious  knowledge  of  a  first  love!  In 
secret,  he  soon  delved  under  the  enemy's  mines  at  the 
national  capital.  It  was  only  two  weeks  after  his  arrival, 
when  he  was  enabled  to  send,  flashing  joy  into  every 
heart  of  the  anxious  circle  at  Petersburg,  the  single 
word,  "Victoria!"  It  meant  that  he  had  verified  every 
detail  of  the  original  topography  and  surveys!  While 
his  dead  uncle's  naval  associates  cheerfully  obtained  for 
him  every  Government  chart  and  survey,  in  secret,  he 
toiled  with  flying  fingers  at  the  landscape  sketch  of 
Bradford's  strange  heritage!  The  revenges  of  Time  had 
given  to  Paul,  the  journalistic  lobbyist,  not  only  his  own 
share,  but  all  that  the  astute  Senator  had  struggled  for! 
For  the  Senator's  wife  and  wealth  were  both  his  now  > 

As  Arthur  gazed  at  his  finished  sketch  of  the  ''high, 
bare,  green  island "  with  its  straggling  cleft-hidden 
pines,  on  the  eve  of  his  departure,  he  received  a  mail 
secretly  forwarded  by  his  carefully  instructed  chief  stu 
dent!  A  courtly  letter  from  Bradford  begged  him  to 
await  the  stately  subject  of  the  portrait,  at  the  agreed- 
on  time.  "I  shall  find  it  necessary  to  be  in  Washington 
in  the  latter  part  of  this  winter,  and  Mrs.  Bradford's 
chief  treasure  there  will  be  the  work  of  your  genius  /" 
so  wrote  the  millionaire  from  Italy.  "And  do  not  for 
get  my  landscape !  I  have  been  elected  President  of 
the  Mining  Company,  and  it  will  adorn  my  official  sanc 
tum."— 

"By  Jove!"    cried  Arthur,   ringing    for   his    servant. 
"I  will  pack  and  take  the  midnight  train,  and  catch  the 
23 


406  THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

very  first  steamer.  This  acute  schemer  must  not  dream 
of  my  lingering  here!  And,  if  he  settles  here  for  the 
season,  the  time  to  strike  the  blow  is  when  he  exhibits 
his  "stately  wife,  in  her  enhanced  splendor, — the  Sena 
tor's  widow,—  for  he  has  now  both  fortunes!  "- 

Randolph  was  working  with  a  true  Bohemian  celerity, 
when  the  words  "Senator  s  widow"  returned  to  haunt 
his  mind!  "I  am  a  child!"  he  cried,  as  he  threw  him 
self  into  a  chair.  "She,  the  mining  millionaire's  wife, 
would  never  have  these  old  scandals  re-opened  here! 
It  would  disgrace  her  first  husband '  s  still  honored  mem 
ory!  Ah!  I  see  it  all!  If — if  Vera  Narychkine  will 
only  hold  the  Minister  firm  in  our  cause!  " 

Arthur  smiled  in  spite  of  his  forebodings.  "She  is 
the  very  essence  of  fiery  loyalty  and  supreme  dash! 
Dimitri  may  serve  the  Czar,  but  Madame  Narychkine 
ranks  higher  than  the  Wearer  of  Peter's  Crown!" 

It  was  indeed  true  that  the  all-compelling  beauty  con~ 
t  inn  ally  interpolated  her  personal  commands  into  the 
high-sounding  phrases  of  the  Foreign  Office!  And  Vera 
Narychkine  always  worked  her  mysterious  will! 

"  I  will  paint  her  a  better  picture  of  this  storied  island 
than  even  Bradford's  carte  blanc)ie  can  command, — if, — 
she  aids  me  to  frighten  this  robber  into  doing  justice  to 
my  Irma! " 

Mr.  Arthur  Randolph,  artist,  did  not  conceal  from  his 
own  inner  consciousness,  that  in  some  vague,  indefinite 
manner,  he  trusted  to  the  beautiful  Narychkine  also  to 
shorten  the  pathway  to  a  settlement!  "If  the  two  Gov 
ernments  begin  to  officially  investigate  the  legality  and 
priority  of  these  claims,  Irma  and  I  may  die  'maid  and 
bachelor'  long  before  the  diplomatic  muddle  would  ever 
be  finished!  If  I  can  frighten  Bradford  into  seeing  that 
our  side  has  a  clear  and  prior  titlel  then,  this  resolute 


THE    PRINCESS    OF   ALASKA.  407 

scoundrel  is  sensible  enough  to  avoid  his  public  dis 
grace,  and  quietly  make  a  just  settlement!  But,  he 
must  be  first  brought  to  his  knees !"  And  he  sighed  for 
the  dashing  Vera's  aid. 

On  his  voyage  back  over  the  wild  Atlantic,  Randolph 
waited,  chafing  in  his  heart,  till  he  could  telegraph  the 
millionaire  from  England  of  his  readiness  to  execute  the 
portrait. 

"It  will  be  easy  for  me  to  please  him,  as  the  island 
landscape  will  bring  all  his  life's  victories  up  continually. 
— And  he  will  fancy  that  I  have  lost  no  time!  For  the 
Golden  Island  order  was  ready!'" — 

There  was  no  happier  man  in  London  than  Randolph, 
when,  at  his  club,  he  received  the  answers  from  St. 
Petersburg,  to  his  dispatches  sent  from  Liverpool  to 
Madame  Narychkine: 

"  Meet  us  at  the  Russian  Embassy  in  Paris!  We  all 
sail  next  week  for  Washington." — 

Handsome  Dimitri  Narychkine  marvelled  at  the  many 
mysterious  conferences  which  tied  his  fair  wife  and 
Countess  Olga  to  the  returning  artist,  when  they  happily 
met  at  the  world's  gay  capital. 

"I  am  certainly  indebted  to  you,  Randolph,  for  it 
allows  me  to  escort  alone  the  very  prettiest  woman  in 
Paris!  " 

The  laughing  diplomat  applied  himself  to  gaining  a 
knowledge  of  all  the  vagaries  of  an  emancipated  Maid 
of  Honor,  in  closely  watching  the  strangely  jubilant  little 
Princess  of  Alaska!  She  shyly  avoided  Arthur. — 

"lam  really  glad,  for  the  credit  of  the  diplomatic 
corps,  that  she  is  not  a  member  of  the  Legation  family-  '* 
said  Dimitri,  "for 

—"Your  fairy  protegee  has  purchased  chiffons  enough  to 
fill  the  gun  deck  of  a  frigate!" 


408  THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA. 

Vera  Narychkine  looked  meaningly  at  Countess  Olga 
and  then  shook  a  warning  finger!  She  well  knew  whose 
stored  up  wealth  had  indulged  the  beautiful  orphan's 
every  whim  !  —  But,  Narychkine,  whose  motto  was 
" Pleasure  first,  business  afterwards"  though  fond  of 
dallying  in  delightful  Paris,  was  finally  forced  to  set  forth 
to  his  distant  post  at  Washington! 

"I  travel)*  la  Grand  Turque!"  he  laughed,  while 
Randolph's  pleading  voice  was  murmuring  a  last  adieu 
to  Irma,  at  Havre.  Surrounded  by  his  three  lovely 
representatives  of  patrician  Russia,  the  new  Minister 
sailed  away  in  triumph,  not  forgetting  a  last,  meaning 
reference  to  the  magnificence  of  a  splendid  ring,  which 
now  sparkled  on  Princess  Irma  Maxutoff  's  slender  hand! 

"  I  did  not  know  that  artists  were  such  Aladdins!  "  he 
whispered,  teasingly,  at  dinner,  and  then,  regretted  his 
gay  sally,  for  the  beautiful  crimson  glow  on  Irma's 
cheeks  told  him  that  he  had  at  last  fathomed  the  secret 
of  the  long  conferences  !  Afar,  lonely  and  anxious, 
speeding  to  Dresden,  Randolph  reviewed  every  detail  of 
his  verified  researches! 

"  There  is  no  ultimate  escape  for  Bradford  and  his 
partners!  The  tide  is  setting  homeward  now,  and 
bearing  my  darling  Irma's  ships  in  from  sea  /" 

He  resolutely  addressed  himself  to  the  painting  of  the 
portrait  of  Madame  Bradford,  when  the  millionaire  and 
his  train  arrived  from  Italy. — A  feverish  haste  burned  in 
his  veins, — the  wild  glow  of  an  unwonted  enthusiasm, — 
for,  as  the  glowing  colors  sprang  to  life  under  his  genius 
touch,  he  joyously  recalled  that  every  day  brought  him 
nearer  to  the  time  when  he  should  unmask  the  batteries 
of  attack,  and  face  the  man  openly,  whose  unjust 
stewardship  had  robbed  the  darling  woman  he  so 
desperately  loved! 


THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA.  469 

"I  will  never  claim  her  as  my  wife,  if  \  fail!"  the 
anxious  lover  confided  to  his  own  heart,  as  he  read,  at 
last,  the  letters  announcing  the  opening  glories  of 
Madame  Narychkine's  social  reign.  The  enthusiastic 
society  reporters  of  Washington  had  already  seated 
Madame  Vera  on  the  highest  possible  throne!  The 
state  and  future  dignity  of  the  young  Chief  of  the  Orlofs 
was  also  a  fruitful  theme,  for  the  vivacious  young  Count 
was  enjoying  to  the  full  the  leave  of  absence  granted 
him,  at  the  wish  of  the  gracious  Empress! 

*'  I  have  designedly  kept  our  beloved  Olga,  and  your 
Irma,  '  en  retraite, '  until  your  unsuspecting  millionaire 
shall  come  home  to  face  the  one  great  ordeal  of  his  life! 
/  have  a  surprise  in  store  for  you,  my  dear  Arthur,  and 
OJga  and  I  only  wait  now  for  your  coming!  We  have 
received  even  more  than  the  courtesies  due  to  my 
Dimitri's  official  position;  and,  under  pretense  of  recall 
ing  our  old  Alaskan  residence,  we  have  personally  exam 
ined  the  official  maps  and  charts,  and  also  the  records 
of  the  Land  Office!  The  mere  name  of  the  Minister 
{poor,  dear,  unsuspecting  Dimitri')  has  opened  to  us 
every  record!  We  trust,  however,  to  no  one  here!  You 
must  not  betray  our  plan  even  to  my  husband,  until  we 
have  thrown  off  the  mask!  I  intend  to  give  a  Grand 
Ball  at  the  Legation,  on  your  return,  and  shall  not  intro 
duce  Olga  nor  Princess  Irma  Maxutoff  into  society,  until 
the  millionaire  Bradford  can  meet  them,  under  the 
shadow  of  the  Russian  colors,  in  the  Czar's  Legation! 
You  must  quickly  finish  your  picture,  and  then  come  at 
once! " — 

"  Magnificent!  I  shall  never  cease  to  be  proud  of  the 
possession  of  this  superb  portrait!" 

The  enthusiast  was  Paul  Bradford,  who,  with  a  circle 
of  admiring  connoisseurs,  viewed  the  portrait  of  the 


410  III!.       l'UI\        : 

\voman  \vlio  had  solidly  riveted  the  c  liains  of  liis  fortum 
For,  summoned  by  a;i  urgent  cablegram,  the  millionaire 
was  en  route  to  Wftshingtoti!  While  the  Court  circle  of 
Madame  Million's  feminine  flatterers  were  crowding  in 
ecstacy  around  the  noble  finished  work,  Paul  Bradford 
drew  Arthur  Randolph  aside,  into  his  little  artist 
sanctum. 

"I  have  left  the  shipping  of  this  gem, — Randolph,  to 
your  friend\\*.  Hugh  Wilde,  whose  'Spartacus'  I  have 
also  purchased,  to  please  my  wife  ! — //  is  a  great  work  ! 

Arthur  bowed  to  repress  a  smile  of  triumph!  Hugh's 
old  "reliable"  was,  in  fact,  the  colossus  of  hist  or  u  il 
pictures!  A  great  work!  Six  by  ten  feet,  //  7^'as  /</;,>• 
eni'ifg/i  to  do  ample  justice  to  the  revolted  chief  and  Us 
motley  crew! 

"I  have,  at  least,  made  Wilde's  fortune  !  May  I  do 
as  much  for  my  own  Inna'*  thought  Arthur,  as  the 
millionaire  regally  tendered  his  check  for  the  two 
works. 

"I  leave  for  Washington  to-morrow  to  remain  until 
the  adjournment  of  Congress!  I  am  only  sorry  that  I 
shall  not  see  you  there!  "  concluded  Bradford. 

"I  may  be  called  there  soon  by  very  important  busi 
ness!  In  that  case, — I  should  most  certainly  see  you," 
answered  the  artist. 

"I  hope  so!"  the  bustling  capitalist  cordially  said,  as 
he  seized  his  hat  and  gloves. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  we  shall  meet  /here,  soon,"- 
gravely  remarked  Arthur  Randolph,  as  he    stepped  out 
to  receive  the  incense  of    the  adoring  women  virtuosos. 

"I  had  intended  to  offer  to  you  a  formal  dinner,  Mr. 
Randolph,"  began  the  delighted  lady  of  the  portrait, 
"but  we  must  hasten  on  to  Liverpool,  as  our  passages 
are  engaged  for  the  next  Cunarder!" 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  41! 

"  In  that  case,  /  will  take  the  French  line! "  joyously 
cried  Arthur,  as  he  marked  the  last  fluttering  robe  disap 
pear.  "  Now,  clear  the  decks  for  action!  " 

There  was  an  eager  fire  burning  in  his  veins,  and  his 
eye  glittered  ominously,  when  the  huge  vans  of  Bradford's 
luggage  passed  him  in  the  evening,  as  he  strolled  into  the 
great  hotel  to  send  a  cabled  warning  to  Madame  Vera 
Narychkine. 

"  I  will  know  whether  I  am  to  spend  my  life  alone  in  sad 
ness  or  not,  before  I  see  you  again! "  murmured  Randolph, 
as  he  drew  the  curtain  late  that  night  to  gaze  on  the  pic 
tured  loveliness  of  the  Princess  of  Alaska!— 

"  Shall  I  go  on  through  life  worshiping  you  only  as  a 
sweet  dream,  my  darling, — or  will  you  be  mine,  in  very 
truth?"  he  sighed!  And  it  seemed  as  if  the  pictured  lips 
smiled  in  the  loving  answer,  which  his  passionate  heart 
craved!  But  he  resolutely  said:  "  I  will  win  you  first,  my 
own  Irma!  The  battle  waits!" 

It  was  the  crowning  social  excitement  of  the  gayest  season 
of  the  early  eighties,  which  thronged  the  Russian  Legation 
with  the  great  world  of  Washington's  most  exclusive  set  — 
If  the  blaze  of  lights,  the  shimmer  of  jewels  and  sheen  of 
richest  robes;  if  the  magnetic  hum  of  hundreds  of  voices, 
in  delighted  murmurs,  could  lend  a  further  charm  to 
Madame  Narychkine's  ball, — there  was  every  condition  of 
success  to  accentuate  the  loveliness  of  the  women  who  were 
now  all  eagerly  discussing  the  one  topic:  "  Who  are  they?  " 
— For,  after  waiting  a  half  hour  in  the  interminable  line  of 
carriages,  Arthur  Randolph  finally  forced  his  way  to  the 
front!, 

The  great  artist  was  already  a  national  favorite,  and  as 
he  pressed  forward,  his  face  pale,  his  eyes  eager  and  gleam 
ing  with  a  strange  fire,  he  heard  on  all  sides,  the  wonder 
excited  by  the  matchless  beauty  of  Countess  Olga  Orlof,  and 
loveliness  of  the  Princess  Irma  Maxutoff!  Laughingly 


412  THE    PRINCESS   OF   ALASKA. 

declining  to  enlighten  the  gossips,  Randolph  at  last  stood 
before  Vera  Narychkine,  who  had  firmly  seized  a  social 
leadership,  admitted  without  cavil. 

The  minister,  magnificent  in  his  'grande  tenue,'  unbent 
his  state  to  whisper  to  Randolph:  "Remember,  Arthur!  You 
stop  with  us,  'en  pelite  comit6.' — You  are  to  be  //-;;/ a  .1 
cavalier!  Vera  has  asked  your  friends,  the  Bradfords,  to 

join  us!" — The  hour  had  come! 

4-  Where  is  Irma?  "  eagerly  demanded  the  artist. 

"  She  is  the  queen  of  the  ball!  Your  gilded  American 
youth  may  lead  you  a  hard  race,  my  friend!  She  is  simply 
ravishing  in  her  loveliness!  "  And  the  gallant  Russ  sighed 
that  he  cwld  not  flirt,  himself,  with  his  own  wife's  second 
soul! 

It  was  a  long  half  hour  before,  with  a  beating  heart,  the 
lover,  in  a  lull,  listened  to  Madame  Narychkine's  whis 
pered  confidences.  "At  one  o'clock,  in  the  small  room,  you 
must  watch  for  my  signal!  " 

The  crisis  was  at  hand!  For,  on  his  return,  Randolph 
had  found  that  Paul  Bradford  and  his  wife  had  been  drawn 
into  the  maelstrom  of  wiles  of  the  "  Petersburg  witch!  " — 
as  the  envious  called  her! 

"All  is  ready!  /  will  take  Bradford  alone  into  the 
library  at  the  right  time!  Dimitri  will  remain  with  the 
millionairess,  and  Olga,  too,  will  have  all  my  instructions! 
We  may  need  her  help!" 

All  in  vain,  the  pleading,  passionate  music  rose  and  fell 
around  Arthur  Randolph,  as  the  kaleidoscopic  beauty  of 
the  dance  led  on  only  from  one  exquisite  tableau  to  another! 
He  marked  not  approving  eye,  fluttering  fan  or  gentle 
appealing  glance.  For  a  week,  he  had  studied  his  role 
with  the  Queen  of  Hearts,  Madame  Narychkine,  and,  even 
now,  he  was  not  master  of  her  whole  plan!  The  brief 
glories  of  the  night  were  already  fading,  when,  with  an  excite 
ment  he  could  not  master,  Randolph  followed  the  bidding 


THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA.  413 

of  brave  Vera's  sparkling  eyes!  Smooth,  suave,  and  tri 
umphant,  Paul  Bradford  shone  at  his  very  best,  in  the  little 
circle  which  was  admitted  to  the  especial  favor  of  the 
patrician  hostess!  It  was  with  a  sudden  start  that  Ran 
dolph  merely  bowed  his  assent,  when  Bradford  had  eagerly 
whispered  to  him  at  the  door  of  the  room: 

"  I  must  see  you  to-morrow;  about  these  lovely  strangers? 
Why!  this  is  the  very  little  Princess  Afaxuteff"  whom  I  have 
sought  for  years!  And  I  recognized  the  beautiful  recluse  of 
Baranoff,  too,  at  once!  "— 

"Was  he  already  alarmed?"  and  yet  Randolph  could  not 
now  manage  to  warn  Princess  Vera.  Bradford  eyed  him 
closely!  His  eager  glances  followed  every  movement  of 
the  spirited  hostess,  as  when  the  supper  was  concluded, 
with  courtly  grace,  the  ambassadress  left  the  room,  on  the 
arm  of  the  delighted  Californian  millionaire.  An  almost 
imperceptible  signal  from  Vera's  fan  roused  the  distrait 
lover!  In  the  eyes  of  the  triumphant  Irma,  he  read  but 
the  record  of  her  complete  victory  of  this  happy  night! — 

Arthur  had  only  reached  the  ball-room  when  a  cloud  of 
cavaliers  bore  away  the  "  queen  of  the  rosebud  garden  of 
girls!" — A  decorous  voice  interrupted  his  musing,  as  he 
stood  fondly  gazing  at  the  woman  he  loved.  A  house  but 
ler  stood  beside  him. 

"  Madame  Narychkine  begs  your  presence  in  the  library, 
for  a  moment!  " 

With  a  resolute  step,  the  artist  entered  the  room  where 
his  fair  ally  now  breathlessly  awaited  him!  To  his  aston 
ishment^  Bradford  was  already  facing  Madame  Narychkine, 
like  a  tiger  at  bay,  while  with  her  face  buried  in  her  hands, 
Countess  Orlof  was  seated  by  the  table! 

"Will  you  kindly  lock  that  door  for  a  moment?"  said 
Madame  Narychkine  to  Randolph.  "  I  would  prefer  not 
to  be  interrupted, — until  Mr.  Bradford  has  heard  you?  " 

The  Minister's  wife  calmly  seated  herself,  and  the  regu- 


1  UK    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 


lar  movement  of  her  fan  showed  that  her  self  poise  was 
unshaken!  But  Paul  Bradford,  in  an  evil  moment,  lost  the 
self-control  of  a  life,  and  turning  to  Randolph,  with  a  voice 
choking  with  rage,  harshly  demanded: 

"What  is  this  I  hear  of  a  demand  in  your  hands,  as  to 
some  pretended  Russian  claim  on  my  company  in  regard  to 
the  title  to  our  mine.'  " 

"It  means,  Mr.  Bradford,"  calmly  rejoined  Arthur  Ran 
dolph,  "  that  I  shall,  at  once,  file  at  the  State  Department, 
on  behalf  of  the  Princess  Irma  Maxutoff,  the  verified 
papers  of  a  royal  Russian  grant,  antedating  your  land  entry 
by  four  years?  " 

"It  is  a  trumped  up  invention,  Sir!"  cried  Paul!  "We 
officially  corresponded  with  the  Russian  Government,  which 
disavowed  any  such  claims,  when  we  made  our  entry!  And, 
besides,  we  have  the  deed  of  the  original  Russian  discov 
erer,  Pierre  Lefranc!  —  '  French  Pete,  'who"  — 

A  hollow  groan  from  Countess  Olga  brought  Vera  and 
Randolph  quickly  to  her  side,  as  she  faltered: 

"  '/.iibows  spy!  The  faithless  comrade!  The  man  who 
killed  my  poor  husband  /" 

Bradford  stood  aghast,  as  Arthur  Randolph  now  turned 
on  him,  like  a  lion! 

"I  see  your  own  villainy,  you  cold  hypocrite!  \\ni 
conspired  with  those  dead  scoundrels  to  rob  this  orphan 
girl!  " 

The  two  men  faced  each  other  in  a  wild  deadly  hatredl 
The  mask  was  off  ! 

"I  have  had  the  original  deeds  and  tne  Czar's  patents, 
under  my  own  care,  since  we  all  left  Sitka!  Iknowjw/ 
now,  Paul  Bradford,/^;-  a  cold-hearted  scoundrel!  " 

"Why  were  they  not  then  recorded  properly  at  the  Rus 
sian  capital?"  sneered  the  millionaire  in  triumph!  '"They 
are  base  frauds!  " 

"They  were  so  recorded,    and  your  accomplice,    Zubow, 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  415 

destroyed  all  the  properly  kept  Sitkan  archives,  when  he  rob 
bed  the  fur  ships! — When  you  made  your  inquiries,  Prince 
Gregory  Maxutoff's  rights  were  declared  legally  forfeited! 
But  not  so,  those  of  his  wife  and  heirs  who  are  named  also 
in  the  original  patents!  They  were  valid,  for  the  holders 
were  innocent!  " 

Bradford  staggered  back  pale,  as  these  words  smote  on 
his  ear,  and  stood  amazed,  as,  her  eyes  flashing,  Countess 
Olga  Orlof  sprang  up  and  now  faced  him!  Pointing  her 
finger  sternly  at  him,  she  said: 

"  You  and  your  murderer  partner  forgot  that  /  and  my 
child  were  and  are  named  equally  in  the  original  patents! — 
that  Prince  Maxutoff  was  pardoned  and  restored  by  the 
Czar  to  all  his  rights,  before  his  death! — Your  villainous 
hand  sent  Maxutoff  to  his  early  grave, — and  your  partner 
murdered  my  Fedor!  " 

"  A  likely  story!  "  triumphantly  reiorted  the  millionaire. 
"  There  were  no  private  claims  excepted  in  Baron  Stoeck- 
el's  official  transfer!  I  defy  you  all! '' 

"  But  the  final  treaty,  solemnly  executed  three  years  later, 
in  1870,  which  is  the  one  formally  ratified  by  the  two  coun 
tries,  expressly  provides  that  any  claim  acknowledged  by  the 
Czar,  shall  be  alloued  by  the  Department  of  State,  and 
take  precedence  of  all  subsequent  American  titles!" 

"  You  have  no  such  recognition!  It  is  too  late!  It  is  im 
possible!  Orlof  was  a  convict!  His  wife  and  child  could 
have  had,  and  gained,  no  rights!  Andjy<?#  can  not  bully 
me  with  basing  a  claim  on  these  forged  documents,  where 
the  original  archives  were  lost  at  sea  fourteen  years  ago! 
I  will  fight  it  to  the  last  dollar  I  "— 

Arthur  Randolph's  head  dropped  on  his  bosom  in  defeat! 

Then,  the  sound  of  a  voice,  ringing  clear  and  sharp  as  a 
silver  bell, — made    Bradford's   blood  chill,   even  in  his  mo 
ment  of  triumph! — 

Madame  Narychkine,  the  Minister's  lovely  wife,  drew  a. 


416  THK    PRIXCKSS    OK    ALASKA. 

folded  paper  from  the  bosom  of  her  dress!  She  stood  be 
fore  the  quaking  millionaire,  as  the  very  impersonation  of 
"  an  angel  with  a  fiery  sword! — 

"  You  are  a  cool  manipulator,  Mr.  Bradford!  "  she  coldly 
said.  "  You  play  your  cards  well,  but  /will  take  the  /as/ 
trick! — You  have  spoken  of  Madame  Orlof,  the  mother 
of  my  guest,  Cadet  Count  Orlof, —  who  is  now  the  head  of 
our  house, — as  the  wife  of  a  convict!  Permit  me,  before 
you  leave  my  house  forever,  to  say  that  I  will  give  you 
only  one  chance  to  settle  for  the  equal  interests  of  the 
Orlof  heirs,  and  also  with  the  Princess  Maxutoff,  my  dear 
successor  as  favorite  Maid  of  Honor  to  the  Czarina!  " 

Bradford  grew  pale,  and  his  lips  trembled! — He  muttered: 
"  The  Czarinas  friends!  "  as  the  avenging  beauty  remorse 
lessly  continued: 

"Fedor  Orlof  was  my  beloved  uncle,  and  the  Czar  has 
effaced  all  the  records  and  pardoned  the  death  of  the  last 
great  Orlof,  on  the  report  of  a  legal  commission,  duly 
appointed,  who  reported  it  as  the  result  of  mere  accident ! 
You  have  grossly  insulted  his  friendless  wife  and  child!  You 
have  refused  to  make  restitution  to  the  orphan,  \v\\ose  fa/ /ier 
your  secret  partner  betrayed  to  shame,  and  whose  mother 
died  of  a  broken  heart,  after  your  circle  had  ruined  the 
family  fortunes!  Do  you  still  refuse?"  she  said  glaring  at 
the  door. 

"  /  defy  you!  You  can  not  touch  an  acre!  You  are 
powerless!"  hissed  Bradford,  losing  all  self-control. 

"  I  then  now  demand  a  full  share  of  the  property  and 
dividends  of  the  island  mine  for  each  interest  I  have 
spoken  of;  with  an  accounting  of  such  shares  from  the 
time  when  you  began  to  work  the  mine!"  resolutely 
repeated  Vera  Narychkine,  with  a  reassuring  glance  at 
suffering  Olga  Orlof.  Arthur  Randolph  stood  bewildered! 

* '  You  ihall  never  have  a  single  cent!  "  roughly  ejaculated 
Bradford.  "I  am  ready  to  break  this  scene  off!" — - 


THE    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA.  417 

"/  am  not!  I  will  now  punish  you  for  your  dishonesty 
and  insolence!  "  sternly  said  Vera,  as  she  sharply  touched 
the  bell.  "  Ask  Prince  Nar/chkine  to  favor  me  with  his 
company  instantly,  Serge!"  she  said,  as  she  deliberately 
opened  the  paper,  which  seemed  to  send  the  thrills  of  ah 
unknown  fear  through  the  stern  bosom  of  defiant  Bradford! 

The  ladiant  Minister,  glittering  in  the  splendor  of  his 
rank,  entering  quickly,  gazed  blankly  at  the  disturbed 
faces  before  him!  He  had  fancied  the  '  entente  cordiale ' 
to  be  of  the  very  closest! — 

"  Will  you  kindly  tell  this  person,  Dimitri,  if  the  docu 
ment  which  /  hand  you  now  is  veritable  or  not?  "  The 
lady's  voice  was  icy  cold! 

"Most  certainly!  Why— it  is  a" the  Minister  v/as 

wildly  excited! 

"Never  mind!  Just  tell  him  if  it  is  veritable,  and  leave 
us  then  for  a  moment,  mon  ami!  "  said  Vera,  in  her  sweet 
est,  silky  tones. 

"  It  is  a  veritable  document  on  which  I  would  place  the 
Seal  of  the  Legation"  the  Minister  gravely  said,  "if  I  were 
not  forbidden  to  verify  the  signature  of  His  Majesty  the 
Czars  official  Private  Secretary!"  He  bowed  gravely  and 
retired,  with  a  look  of  cold  menace  at  Bradford,  which 
brought  a  frosty  smile  to  Vera  Narychkine's  lips!  Dimitri 
was  a  deadly  duellist! 

When  the  door  closed,  Madame  Vera  haughtily  said,  as 
she  now  faced  Paul  Bradford,  with  undisguised  scorn: 

"  Her  Imperial  Majesty  the  Czarina,  in  answer  to  my 
prayer,  obtained  the  grace  from  the  Emperor  of  a  free 
release  of  the  '•Emperor's  tenth '  in  these  legally  granted 
mines,  entered  duly  as  the  crown  property,  by  our  laws,  in 
favor  of  Madame  Orlof  and  her  heirs,  and  also  to  Princess 
Irma  Maxutoff,  to  whom  her  own  share  is  especially  given 
as  a  dower  in  view  of  her  approaching  marriage!"- 


4i«S  Tin-:    PRINCESS    OF    ALASKA. 

Arthur  Randolph  staggered  as  he  heard  these  strange, 
words  but  Paul  Bradford  only  stammered: 

"  And  the  Czar  has  then  legally  recognized  the  patent  ?" 

He  seemed  to  be  dazed! 

"  You  will  have  no  trouble  in  finding  out  the  truth  very 
soon,  as  I  shall  ask  the  Minister  to  officially  file  this  adju 
dicated  Russian  grant,  at  the  State  Department,  and  then 
proceed  against  you,  and  your  associates,  in  our  Russian 
Orphans'  Court,  on  behalf  of  the  Princess  Irma  Maxutoff ! 
Madame  Orlof  can  speak  both  for  herself,  and  as  Princess 
Max u toff's  legal  guardian  .'" 

"You  will,  undoubtedly,  find  your  carriage  waiting,  sir! 
I  had  supposed  that  you  were  open  to  the  common  claims  oj 
justice  / 

And  the  fair  ambassadress  offered  her  arm  to  assist 
Countess  Olga,  as  she  rose  to  leave  Bradford's  loathsome 
presence.  Randolph  sprang  forward  to  open  the  door!  — 

"One  word! ''  pleaded  Bradford,  as  he  stood  helplessly 
quivering  now,  in  nameless  fear!  " / will  see  our  lawyers': 
I  will  call  the  company  together!  Hold  back  your  action  ! 
/  beg  of  you!  If  this  is  true,  /  will  settle!  " 

With  one  glance  of  infinite  contempt,  Vera  Narychkine 
passed,  saying  coldly: 

"  You  are  too  late,  sir  !  Madame  Orlof  is  the  legal 
guardian  of  the  Princess  Maxutoff!  /  shall  never  notice 
you  again!  There  is  the  man  whom  you  will  have  to  settle 
with!" 

And,  as  he  staggered  out  to  his  carriage,  Paul  Bradford 
knew  from  the  steely  glitter  of  the  artist's  honest  e)cs,  that 
he  might  hope  for  but  little  mercy!  For  the  ladies,  in  leav 
ing  the  room,  had  passed  without  even  one  parting  word  ! 

He  was  trapped  in  his  own  net  at  last! 

"  My  God !  And  my  wife  will  be  publicly  disgraced!" 
he  muttered,  as  he  saw  the  Legation  doors  close  on  them 
forever! 


THE  PRINCESS  OF  ALASKA.  419 

But  the  ambassadress  had  bidden  the  millionairess  a  most 

cordial  adieu! 

Three  weeks  later,  in  the  drawing  rooms  of  the  Czar's  repre 
sentative,  Arthur  Randolph  sat  sadly,  facing  pretty  Madame 
Vera  Narychkine,  and  strangely  unmindful  of  the  sweet 
earnest  glances  of  the  beautiful  Madame  Orlof,  who  was 
still  pale  and  ill  from  the  mental  agitation  of  the  night  of 
the  Legation  Ball! 

"  /  am  going  back  liome  to-morrow"  quietly  said  Arthur 
Randolph! — "You  need  me  no  more,  and  my  studio  duties 
call  me  at  once  homeward!  If  there  is  anything  I  can  do 
abroad,  you  can  command  me!  I  had  hoped  to  have 
Count  Stephan  bear  me  company,  but  I  suppose  he  has 
extended  that  elastic  leave  of  absence!  The  lawyers  wrote 
me  to-day  that  they  have  informed  you  of  their  acceptance 
of  the  cash  and  bonds  offered  to  you  both,  in  satisfaction 
of  your  interests!  The  funds  are  to  be  paid  in  through  the 
Russian  Legation,  when  the  Minister  certifies  to  the  papers 
of  the  official  agreement!  For  Bradford  to  have  resisted 
your  proofs  further  would  have  been  only  madness  !  It  has 
been  a  great  victory!  And  I  am  also  told  that  Paul  Bradford 
has  suddenly  left  town,/<?r  the  west!  I  am  certainly  free  to 
return  now  to  my  land  o>i pictured  shadows  !  I  will  call  and 
say  '  Good-bye '  to  Princess  Irma  tomorrow!  I  am  very 
busy  to-day, — with  the  preparations  for  my  departure  !"— 

His  voice  seemed  strangely  changed, — for  in  his  heart  of 
hearts  lurked  a  sadness  which  even  he  could  not  control! 

"The  Empress  had  presented  her  share  of  the  Imperial 
tenth,  as  a  wedding  present,  to  Irma,  the  little  Princess 
of  Alaska!" 

So  it  was  all  settled! — And  it  rang  the  knell  of  his  hopes! 

"Ah!  De  Ribeaupierre  will  be  the  very  happiest  man  in 
Russia!  "  he  thought,  as  he  rose,  in  some  constraint.  There 
was  a  silence,  and  the  lovely  women's  eyes  met! 

"  You  are  surely  not  going  to  leave  us  so,  Arthur?  "  cried 


420  THE    PRINCESS   OF   ALASKA. 

the  loveliest  of  guardian  Countesses,  as  she  rose,  her  bosom 
heaving  in  some  strange  unwonted  emotion  !  "  I  wished 
to  give  you  a  little  reminder  of  your  loyal  and  gallant  de 
votion  to  me,  a  friendless  mother,  and  to  the  orphaned 
girt,  whom  you  have  battled  for  so  faithfully  these  many 
long  years!  I  hope  that  you  will  not  refuse  me! " 
Arthur  Randolph's  heart  swelled  in  silent  sorrow! — 
The  young  man  stood  waiting,  his  head  bowed  in  sombre 
thought,while  Vera  Narychkine  sternly  eyed  him,  in  a  strange 
silence!  A  light  step  at  his  side  caused  him  to  look  up  in 
quick  surprise,  as  Countess  Olga  placed  the  slender  hand 
of  the  Princess  of  Alaska  in  his  own! — 

"I  wished  to  make  you  a  little  present,  Arthur! — //  is 
this! — And,"  she  smiled,  "7  can  give  you  a  clear  title  !  " — 

THE    END. 


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